Despite the weather forecast for a light easterly and fog it turned out to be NW>1 with full cloud but good visibility at 14 degrees.
Another stomp on the west bank, pestered with flies and midges, found it again wader-less until a Redshank dropped in on the far east shore but after a quick dip in the water it lifted off high and >SE.
Just the usual LBB and Black Headed gulls on the shore with a low count on 17 LBBs.
Swallows were heading >S as well at 3 House Martin.
With a quiet shoreline I turned my attention to the group of small passerines below the banking but at distance. At least 8 Stonechat were present along with 5 Wheatear, several Mipits and a welcome guest with a cracking, but very active, Whinchat.
On the way home I did a Black Redstart check at the Withins Head farm to find another 3 Wheatear, 5 Stonechat, some juvs being fed and again, several Mipits. All these passerines were probably due to the mass of flies around in the still conditions.
Blooper of the year !!!!
A couple of days ago at Fly Flatts, as I was getting in the car to leave, a raptor flew over the Flat Moor, high and a good distance away. I shot a few photos off just thinking it was the local Sparrowhawk that has been buzzing around.
When I got home and downloaded my mornings pics the Sparrowhawk ones were out of focus and not fit for purpose so I deleted them except one that I blogged, mainly because it was a poor morning with very few photos. I never really looked at the photo but yesterday, a text from 'Hawkeye' MC stating it to be a juv Merlin. When I zoomed the photo in the spots on the primaries that Mick had picked up on were obvious so I retrieved the set of deleted photos, which are terrible, but they show its an obvious juv Merlin.
Nobody else picked up on this but you don;t get anything passed Mick.
The slightly enhanced photo's are below. Thanks once again Mick.
A cloudy sunshine morning at 15 degrees tomorrow with a very light south t south easterly
BS