A pleasant enough morning at Fly Flatts with just 20% cloud and full sunshine. A temp of 14 degrees but kept nice and fresh on a light SW>3.
A check of the south shore islands and puddles in the peat produced 3 Common Sandpiper together along with another 2 which flew to the north shore. Plenty Swallows over the water but no Swifts today.
A walk the length of the east shore to the peninsular just re-located the other 2 Common Sandpiper plus some entertainment from a juv Peregrine, sporting a red ring on its left leg, which was harassing the Mallards and the party of 6 Tufted duck before trying its luck with the Black Headed gulls.
A very noisy Lesser Black Backed gull took off from a group of 45 on the north shore and started mobbing the Pere which soon realized that it didn't fancy its chances with the LBB so headed over the west bank and south down the Calder valley. Otherwise, just the usual Mipits and juv Pied Wags etc plus a single Stonechat.
A text from MC midday informing me of a large influx of Common gulls on the move at his patch of Scargill reservoir, and a report from JB of a juv Med gull at Ringstone makes it look like gulling season is on its way.
Cloudy sunshine for morning with the cloud increasing after midday and a light westerly wind in the morning is also set to increase to moderate as the day goes on. A start temp on 13 degrees rising to 18 degrees.
BS