Fly Flatts in the drizzle.

 

                                    2 of 5 Oystercatchers

                                    East bank

                                    Plenty Goldfinch

Another pleasant weather morning at Fly Flatts with a moderate NW>4 at 14 degrees with full cloud and light drizzle throughout.

   Once again, the overnight fog on the tops had cleared by 0700 hrs leaving Fly Flatts hazy but pleasant enough, in what I call excellent reservoir conditions, though the drizzle failed to drop anything down.

     Only the one Common Sandpiper found this morning but 5 Oystercatchers were on the east bank, these being mainly juvs.

     No gull movement today with just a single LBB on the water whilst 2 SEO and 3 Kestrel were airborne. Nothing else of note other than the usual compound full of Goldfinch, Mipits, Pied Wagtails and a single Stonechat. At least 20 Pied Wagtail are present, mainly juvs, but only a single Grey and a White so far and no Yellow as yet, though Yellow are scarce at this site and only singles have been seen during Aug/Sept in previous years.

    Showing cloudy sunshine for morning on a light NW at 13 degrees followed by a cloudy afternoon.

BS

     

   

A better morn at Fly Flatts.

 

                                    3 of 5 Oystercatchers + LBB gull.

                                A cracking year for Pied Wagtails

                                    Skies full of Goldfinch

                                Unwanted visitor, juv Peregrine

                                    A lot to learn yet.

                                    You can't pick up a Canada Goose.

                                        Having a re-think on that idea.

Perfect conditions at Fly Flatts this morning for the third day running with 60% cloud and some sun on a light W>2 at 16 degrees.

     Much more activity this morning with a juvenile Peregrine low over the water fancying its chances with a Canada goose and then a lame attempt at the Oystercatchers but went away hungry. It was later see very high up harassing moving Swifts with around 20 Swifts, c40 House Martin and 15 Swallows all >S in migration mode and mega high up.

     Just a single Common Sandpiper this morning as well as 3 adult and 2 juv Oystercatcher on the shore as well as 4 Black Headed gull, whilst 12 LBB gull headed >NW.

     The compound and lagoon area was buzzing with Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail and Mipits along with a single Willow Warbler and 1 juv Wheatear. A Buzzard and 2 Raven were present throughout.

  The hirundine and Swift movement will qualify for my first Trektellen  vis mig entry of the season.

        Looking like a bit cloudy and wet tomorrow on a moderate westerly kicking off at 14 degrees.

BS

It can only get better, Fly Flatts.

 Another decent weather morning with full cloud on a light SE>3 at 16 degrees with some hazy after overnight fog.

      A disappointing morning to say its nearly the last week in July with very little to keep up the interest.

Wader-wise, just 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher and the usual Lapwing whilst 1 juv Wheatear was moving around the shoreline.

    Empty skies other than several Swallows motoring through >S plus 2 Black Headed gulls. Usual good count of Pied Wagtail, mainly juvs, as well as Goldfinch and Mipits whilst the water just held the usual Tufted duck family and geese.

   A mix of sunshine and showers for morning with more rain expected after midday with a thunderstorm warning. A very light SW starting off at 14 degrees.

BS

   

Fly Flatts, waders on the move.

 

                                    Juvenile Dunlin

                                        Juv .     Adult.

                                Pale adult heavily worn and in moult.

Despite the 'threat of death' thunderstorm warning it was a pleasant morning at Fly Flatts with dead calm, increasing to E>2 with full low cloud base and some distant mist at 16 degrees.

    A new arrival of waders was apparent with at least 5 Common Sandpiper and 2 Dunlin. one of the Dunlin was a juvenile whilst the other paler bird was a heavily worn adult and in the post breed moult.

These 2 birds stuck to the west bank whilst the Common Sandpipers were way over on the north shore along with 4 LBB gulls and the Yellow Legged Herring that I had last week in the same area.

    A Mallard and a Tufted with 3 well grown juvs each were on the water as well as 6 Black Headed gulls and the usual Canadas and Greylags whilst 2 Kestrel were being kept at bay with a noisy warning from a Lapwing.

   Still busy around the compound with plenty Mipits, Goldfinch and Pied Wagtails along with a single juv Stonechat but no sign of yesterdays Whinchat.

   A cloudy morning tomorrow on a light SE with chance of rain, especially late morning on with a start temp of 15 degrees.

BS

    

All small stuff, Fly Flatts

 

                                As good as it got camera wise, Goldfinch.

Decent weather this morning with 20% cloud and sunshine at 16 degrees on a light SW>3.

    Very quiet this morning with small passerines dominating the watch with around 40 Goldfinch, several Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails as well as 5 Linnet, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 1 juv Wheatear and , top of the shop, a juv Whinchat. Unfortunately all were very mobile, moving around between the compound and the lagoon tree so very hard keeping tracks on them.

    Other than the passerines, it was down to 1 Oystercatcher, 4 BH and 3 LBB gull plus a Raven and 2 Buzzard in the distance.

   Anything could happen weather-wise tomorrow with torrential rain and thunderstorms moving through late morning on a light NNE at 15 degrees.

BS

The wait continues, Fly Flatts

 

                                    Single Ringed Plover

                                     Low water   SE corner

                                        South shore

                                            Bring on the waders

A strange weather morning with dense fog down in the air valley to the east and fog banks on the tops to the west. Luckily these banks soon cleared leaving full cloud on a light SE>2 increasing 3 at 15 degrees. Heavy drizzle by 0945 hrs.

    A bit of a non descript morning with plenty activity but nothing to get the adrenaline going.

A single Ringed Plover was present as well as 2 Common Sandpiper and 3 Oystercatcher whilst the Lapwing is still giving warnings about the unseen chick/s.

   The female Tufted is still on the water with 3 juvs along with 4 Black Headed gull and 2 LBBs whilst the sky remained empty, other than a Raven over the quarry. The 5 Wheatear must have passed straight through as no signs this morning.

    Otherwise, down to small passerines with good counts of Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Goldfinch.

Got to be some Terns about anytime now and a couple of weeks away from Black Redstart time.

     Cloudy sunshine for morning on a light SSW at16 degrees with a thunderstorm warning for p.m.

BS

   

Wheatears starting to move, Fly Flatts.

 

                                            Kestrel with prey

                                    Prey dropped

                                    1 of 5 distant Wheatear

                                    4 juv, 1 ad male

                                    White Greylags fledged

                                        1 of 2 Common Sandpiper

A decent morning weather wise at Fly Flatts with a brisk NW>3 at 16 degrees with a mix of cloud and sunshine after heavy overnight rain.

    Wheatears are starting to arrive with 4 juveniles and an adult male in partial moult but, as always, the first returners are very timid and keep a good distance before settling down. 

    Nothing new in the way of waders as yet with just 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Oystercatchers and a pair of Lapwing with at least 1 very late chick.

   Plenty Swallows over but no Swifts for a few days now, though I have recorded then through to the end of August on previous years.

     A Kestrel dropped down onto the edge of the moor and came up with a vole in one talon but soon dropped it back into the long grass, I wonder if it survived its ordeal. The Kestrel later tried its luck at the Lapwing chick but was soon seen off with the adults. A Buzzard was on a distant rock to the west of the water.

    Nothing on the water other than the female Tufted and 3 chicks as well as 2 Black Headed gulls whilst the shoreline was, once again, alive with Mipits, Pied Wagtails and Goldfnch.

   The 7 white Greylags a becoming a real distraction, as when they fly, at distance, they look just like Egrets making me grab for the camera.

    A cloudy morning given for tomorrow with a light SE at 16 degrees, hopefully, no fog.

BS