A bright clear morning at Fly Flatts with full cloud cover on a light SW>2 at a cool 3 degrees. Dense fog hanging down in the Aire Valley.
With work going on in the boat compound I walked the length of the west bank which turned out to be a good move. Plenty Canada and Greylag geese on the water as well as Mallards but as I got half way on and scanned the water through the bins a drake Common Scoter was in the NE corner of the water. A dash on to the NW corner of the water for a few very distant photos as well as putting he call out to DJS. Apparently a few Scoters are on the move at the moment but have been a scarce visitor to this area over the last few years.
A single Pied Wagtail was on the west bank as well as 4 Meadow Pipits and 2 Oystercatchers whilst several Lapwings and Curlews were in the air. The Ringed Plover was still present but staying put at distance on the east bank.
As I got back to the south bank DJS was steaming along the top road and a phone call to him confirmed that he had the Scoter in his scope. A few minutes later he rang me back to say he had 2 Redshank on the north shore which, with guidance from Dave, I managed a distant view of their heads above the grass banking. At last, decent weather and decent birds at Fly Flatts.
A surprise this afternoon when dog walking in Foxhill Park when a sudden call and a Common Snipe flew over my head and dropped down into the Grimston field. Almost immediately it was in the air again dropping down behind Foxhill school. Probably one of the Dailie fields birds but a first for me over Foxhill.
A cloudy day given for tomorrow and chance of showers with unfortunately a rise in temperature to 6 degrees on a light SE which is a perfect recipe for fog.
BS