Back among the waders, Fly Flatts,(permit only).

                                        More 'new in' Dunlins today

                                                         Usual Ringed Plover pair

                                         Around 10 Canada families so far.

                                                        3 male Reed Buntings present.

                                    What stonking birds Dunlin are !

 Mid afternoon at Fly Flatts was slightly hazy with full cloud on a light SE>3 at 8 degrees.

                                        More Dunlin had arrived all looking like are common schinzii race and not yet in full breeding plumage. Otherwise it was down to the usual Common Sandpipers etc with small waders constantly flying low over the water from one shore to the other.

                                         A good year for Curlew with several on the Flat Moor and over the east ridge beyond the wind turbines, after last years poor show.

Still 2 Wheatear present but the Ring Ouzel previously sighted must have moved straight through with no more sightings since.

FLY FLATTS

9 Dunlin

6 Common Sandpiper

1 Oystercatcher

2 Ringed Plover

2 Golden Plover

3 Reed Bunting

1 Raven

2 Wheatear

5 LBB gull ......>SE

BS

Another busy wader morning at Fly Flatts,(permit only)

 

                                         Common Sandpipers holding territory

                                          New arrivals, pair of Tufted duck

                                            Unusual to see Black Headed gulls over this time of year

                                             Male Ringed Plover

A dull and hazy morning but sufficient visibility at 10 degrees and dead calm conditions.

                                 Another very busy wader morning with small waders darting in all directions over the water and on the shoreline. The Dunlins stuck to the distant peninsular so could only be seen through the scope whilst Common Sandpipers are now paired up and defending territory. More Swallows over the water >S whilst 2 Golden Plover dropped into the top field.

                              A long awaited , first of the year for me, Linnet was near the top gate briefly and a pair of Tufted duck were new to the water. A nugget with a drone was buzzing around the north end of the reservoir but unfortunately I,d left my ground to air missile launcher at home.

Fly Flatts

7 Common Sandpiper

2 Ringed Plover

4 Redshank

2 Golden Plover

5 Swallows

6 Dunlin

1 pr Tufted duck

1 pr Wheatear

6 BH gull >SE

1 Linnet

BS

Fly Flatts, photos through the fog a.m./ a busy wader afternoon.

                                                          Up to 6 Dunlin present

                                           More Common Sandpiper arriving

                                                   Usual Ringed Plover

                                                              Just a single male  Wheatear

                                              Plenty Swallows around now

                             DJS's Whimbrel still held down by fog this morning at C.E.D.

                                                      Taken through the fog

                                                       New life for Fly Flatts, Lapwing chick

Dense fog on the tops this morning with just enough visibility to check the shoreline but no view of the water. A very light SW>2 at 6 degrees with light drizzle.By mid afternoon the fog had cleared leaving dark and cloudy skies.

                          A good start to the morning with a stop off at Cold Edge Dams to find DJS's Whimbrel still present held down by the fog but reported to have left late morning >N.

                        Fly Flatts was enveloped in dense fog with no visibility over the water but enough to check the shoreline for waders.

A very frustrating morning with plenty small wader activity flitting around the fringes of the water and then disappearing in the fog. 

                          A return visit mid afternoon found it alive with Dunlin and Common Sandpiper plus the usual Ringed Plovers and Redshank whilst 3 Snipe were present, one taking food into the reed bed.

Swallows were a regular sighting whilst there are now 2 pair of Greylags with young as well as several Canada goslings. A noisy Lapwing alerted me to the presence of 2 chicks looking very vulnerable.

Fly Flatts

6 Dunlin

8 Common Sandpiper

2 Redshank

3 Snipe

2 Ringed Plover

1 m Wheatear

1 Oystercatcher

1 Grey Wagtail

1 Pied Wagtail

14 Swallow

2 m Reed Bunting

2 Lapwing chicks

several Greylag and Canada Goslings

2 Kestrel

+ usual sp.

BS