An ideal weather morning at Fly Flatts with early mist soon clearing to leave cloudy sunshine on a light W>2 at 14 degrees.
One of those well awaited mornings today with firstly 3 Wheatear along the south bank along with 2 Oystercatchers but no sign of Dunlin. A walk half way along the west bank seemed quiet until a family of 6 Kestrel arrived, all interacting over the banking before drifting off over the moor to the north.
A check around the compound produced just the usual Pied Wags, Goldfinch and Mipits so I headed along the east bank to check the peninsular area. Half way on I scoped across to the NW corner by the inlet and picked up 2 Greenshank so a dash on to the peninsular to try to get in range though they were still well out of camera range and in a ton of heat shimmer.
A few minutes after, the YW van drove on the west bank and as it got near the birds the two, plus a third Greenshank, flushed and lifted off high to the NW. Thinking that was it I hung on until YW had gone and amazingly one and then the other 2 returned to the same spot.
A quick dash back to the car and drove up to the top road to get a phone signal to ring Lynda and request an extension, which was granted, so back down to the water and a walk on the west bank in hopes of getting in range to age the birds and hopefully some photos.
Half way on the banking depression set in when I saw a women dog walker had walked along the public right of way track with 6 off the lead dogs passing very near to where the birds were. I continued on to the last bend and checked through the scope, nothing. In a final hope I walked to the very end of the west bank in case they were in the overflow but nothing and no signs scoping the entire shore.
A bit disappointing but still a good sighting to to have now had 4 Greenshank present on my patch this year so far.
A case of possible sunshine and showers for the morning on a light westerly at 14 degrees.
BS