Wall to wall waders. Fly Flatts, ( no public access)

                                            1 of 17 Dunlin

               This female + 2 male Ringed Plover present.

                                                male Ringed Plover.

                                                   2 Oystercatcher.

                                             Dunlin

   This Buzzard caused a red alert with the Curlews and Lapwings

Perfect wader conditions today  with plenty cloud and a W>4 increasing to W>5 by late afternoon with a few light drizzle showers at 12 degrees and good visibility apart from the usual heat distortion along the shoreline.
                                The whole area was alive with waders today spreading around the whole of the shorelines even though there was plenty work going on with the diggers. More Dunlin had arrived overnight as well as a 2nd male Ringed Plover but still waiting for a Little Ringed which tend to be very scarce at this site although last year was exceptional with 3 birds together followed by 5 individuals stretching into July so plenty time left yet.
                             Several more Canadas are appearing but a very poor breeding year with only 10 goslings showing with around 40 adults. This time last year I was up to a count of nearly 400 geese but the low water has probably curbed the breeding program.
                             A single Buzzard high above the wind turbines got the Curlews and Lapwings up in force sending it back towards Ogden.
Fly Flatts
17 Dunlin
8 Common Sandpiper
2m 1f Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
7 Curlew
2 Oystercatchers
7 Greylag + 6 gosling
1 Buzzard
1 f Merlin
Stay safe B.S.

Fly Flatts in the sun, ( no public access)

                                 Herring gull with red leg ring but unreadable

                                        Plenty Herrings but no Yellow Legged as yet.

                                               4 of 5 Oystercatchers.

                                 2 Carrion Crows creating havoc

                                    but size doesnt matter to Lapwings

                                             Gulls on the peninsular

                   
                              Back to the dreaded sunny conditions today starting off early morning at 14 degrees on a light SW>4 then up to 22 degrees by late p.m. on a SW>5 which made it pleasant to walk in but impossible for photos with a ton of heat distortion even making scoping difficult.
                                                   Despite the weather, birds were active throughout, though, other than 5 Oystercatchers, the wader species remained the same.
Quite a bit of aerial activity with a family party of 5 Raven over the Nab and 2 Buzzard up over the moor, which I have,nt seen for quite a while. Crows were on chick alert but soon seen off by Lapwings and more Curlew than I thought were in the area.
                                            Still struggling for a different variety of wader but I,m sure something will turn up in the near future.
A 2cy Herring gull had a red leg ring but distance and heat shimmer prevented me from getting any details.
Fly Flatts
12 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
6 Common Sandpiper
5 Oystercatchers
3 Redshank
3 Golden Plover
8 Curlew
2 Buzzard
2 Carrion Crow
5 Raven
c 150 Herring/LBB gulls
+ usual sp.
Stay safe, B.S.

Rain at last . Fly Flatts, (no public access)

                                           Lapwing chick.

                     The 6 Greylag goslings are growing well now

                      Hopefully getting too big for the gulls now.

                     Ringed Plover didnt seem too interested.

A day of rain for a pleasant change with the wind at slightly less strength dropping by late p.m.
The morning was very wet with heavy drizzle turning to rain on a strong W>5 but it topped the ponds up, dampened the mud, livened up the waders and watered my garden. By 1000 hrs the fog stopped play. Late afternoon saw the last of the drizzle which cleared half way through the watch with the wind dropping and sky clearing.
                                                   An increase in Dunlin but otherwise the same species but much livelier darting around the reservoir area seemingly enjoying the wet weather.
A Robin by the ponds seemed out of place whilst 4 Golden Plover dropped onto the far shore to preen.
         Around 80 mixed Herring and LBB gulls were present throughout but out of range way across in the NW corner where vegetation is now growing on the mud.
        Swifts piled through >S with around 40 in 15 minutes which was probably a feeding party moving behind the low pressure system.
Fly Flatts
4 Golden Plover
5 Curlew
14 Dunlin
3 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers
8 Common Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
1 Robin
1 pr Pied Wagtail
+ usual sp.
Stay safe, BS

And how the wind blew, Fly Flatts.(no public access)

                                                 1 of 2 regular Oystercatchers.

                                      Dunlins present daily

                                                Tired out.

                  Pair of Pied Wagtails feeding young.   male

                                                                 male

                                      A wind blown Ringed Plover.

   Taken way out on the mud at 600mm + 1.4 converter + 1.6
                     crop factor camera = 1344 mm. No heat shimmer today.

Another wind swept day but ideal wader conditions with birds flying around constantly in a WSW>6 increasing to W>7 late afternoon at 38 m.p.h. This morning saw a few heavy hail and rain showers but short lived and just enough to 'sleck the dust.'
                         Other than the usual waders Swallows and Swifts were the star attraction  with good numbers all heading  into the wind. A single House Martin came through which was a surprise for this location but no Sand Martins this year as expected, I usually have to wait until autumn vis mig for my first.
                   This Swallow/Swift movement brought out a cracking male Merlin which steamed low over the water ,disappearing over the west bank. Very few big gulls today and its looking like the remaining 3 Wheatear have moved on.
MC had a Sanderling today so could be my turn next plus a tundrae Ringed Plover( I.ll have to read up on that ,just in case.)

                    Another showery windy day tomorrow though slightly less strength in the wind and then back to the dreaded hot stuff on Monday.
Fly Flatts
Sev Swallow and Swift..........>WSW
1 House Martin......................>WSW
9 Dunlin
1 Ringed Plover
11 Common Sandpiper
2 Oystercatchers
c 50 mixed Herring and LBB gull
1 m Merlin
+ usual sp.
Stay safe, BS

Birding with the professionals, Fly Flatts, (no public access)

                                            Lapwing Chick

                                                Redshank chicks

                                          4 present.

                                            Single Golden Plover

                   Sand and dust blasting across the shore.

                                                        Kim at work

 This was inspecting a rabbit burrow in a stone pile

                                             Scanning the shore.

A mild 15 degrees morning with some sunshine and clear visibility but a moderate  WSW>5
building to SW>8 gale force blowing at 42 m.p.h. by late afternoon.
                                          It was an enjoyable privilege this morning to accompany  professional ecologist/ornithologist Kim Bowman around Fly Flatts performing a survey of nesting birds in the reservoir basin and shoreline areas with a view to water starting to be reintroduced back into the reservoir.
              Kim is contracted to Bentleys for this project to protect the welfare of the birds and has done several visits to the site since before and during the work began. She travels all over the country with her job and when she,s not birding at work she is out doing her hobby, birding of course, specializing in raptors and owls and being involved in several organizations.
             We walked the whole area of the reservoir, even across the black muddy basin which is usually like quicksand but is now very dry and spongy, like walking on a mattress.
              Kim picked out 4 Redshank chicks, that was after she had spent 5 minutes getting me onto a chick that was a piece of wood. It made me feel better that even with letters after your name for birding you can still look at bits of wood and plastic bags for birds, as we all do.
             The walk around was very awkward in the strong wind and having to keep a distance between us making us have to shout to be heard plus sand in the eyes was a problem.
            After a thorough check around we were both satisfied that there were no nests in danger of being flooded so the water will shortly be allowed back in slowly with another final check next month, that,s if it ever rains. Many thanks to Kim for an enjoyable morning.

Fly Flatts
4 Dunlin
1 Ringed Plover
6 Common Sand
1 pr Redshank + 4 chicks
c 40 mixed Herring and LBB gulls
1 Golden Plover
1 Merlin ,KB
Stay safe, BS.