A blustery, near gale force WSW>7 to gale force 8 on the west bank with 80% cloud and breaks of sunshine at 20 degrees.
Too windy to walk the west bank so a check of the south shore which just produced a few Wheatear and 3 Kestrel. Several Swallows and House Martins were heading >SW in migration mode, low over the water, along with at least 2 Sand Martin.
On then into the compound and a good scope round, which was difficult in the wind, but a surprise to spot a Greenshank near the northern end of the west bank. This is my 5th Greenshank this year in the same area but never, as yet, managed a haff decent photo.
Despite the howling wind it was another attempt on the west back to get within camera range, my last 2 attempts failing miserable, once with a biker and the second time a dog walker, was this to be third time lucky.
Hard work walking along the banking top with my legs nearly being blown from under me, though it did'nt seem to bother the dogs, apart from flapping ears. Three parts of the way on I could see the Greenshank on the cobbled banking by the waters edge so, through experience, I took a few shots in case it flew, its always best to get something, even if its only a poor record shot.
A few yards further on, but still out of range, plus a ton of heat shimmer, I stopped to get another shot when a juv Black Headed gull took a dislike to it and flushed it from the bank, mobbing it as it flew before forcing it off >NE. Luckily, I had just stopped and the camera was on the tripod so managed a few poor flight shots whilst trying to keep the camera upright in the wind.
So another attempt of a decent picture thwarted, hopefully, next time will be the one, if there is a next time. Otherwise just the usual LBB and BH gulls and the usual species. My daily Black Redstart check at Withins Head farm on the way home was also thwarted with the farmers wife down the track with her dog, but a Swift over The Range Halifax, pm, was a bonus.
Cloudy sunshine for morning with the dreaded wind dropping at last to a light WSW at12 degrees.
BS.