Back to Fly Flatts now the fog has cleared

  Most of the waders were across on the east shore
which now has a peat ridge running along it.

2 of 7 Dunlin. The one on the right new in with bright chestnut
back and full black belly. Probably just full breeding plumage
without trying to split species.

1530 hrs and another of those hot visits saved by the NE >4 making it feel quite pleasant apart from the quiet clear blue skies. With the water dropping rapidly now and well below the overflow waders were again out in force although the bulk of them were across on the east shore working the peat ridge now showing over there.
                                               Up to 9 Common Sandpipers were across on the east with another 3 near the clubhouse and 2 on the south shore. The single Ringed Plover was still present but mobile way across in the NE corner whilst around 6 Redshank were up in the air protecting their new born chicks.
The Dunlin flock of 5 were beyond the boat house in the  inaccessible reedy area but as I was walking back on the west bank 2 newcomer Dunlins dropped in near to me but in a bad position on a bend in the banking so a quick look in the bins and one pic was all I could manage. The bird on the right was noticeably smaller with a much more chestnut back and full black belly. Without starting splitting variants its possibly just in full breeding plumage but I,ll be looking out for it next visit.
                                               Next wader target birds are Little Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Turnstone but if any other wader species drop in I,ll not complain.
This is the hardest time of the year for birding Fly Flatts as waders take over the reports and time is spent with head down checking the shoreline when I really should be spending more time watching the sky although I,m fairly safe whilst its so clear and blue.
                                               Hope you,ve all had a good Bank Holiday, back to it tomorrow.
BS.

Bank Holiday blues. Fly Flatts

Thick fog in Queensbury and although I knew it would be worse at Fly Flatts I thought it a good time to check the bankings for any waders being brought down over night.
                                                                 0730 hrs and as expected, dense fog but good enough to be able to check the waters edge for new comers . A NE>3 was blowing with light drizzle.
                                                                 First off was a check of the new shoreline in the SE corner and then around the boat compound area and east banking. This provided 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Snipe , 3 Redshank and 1 Dunlin plus the usual Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings.
                                                                   On then to the south and west bankings where usually any new birds in seem to settle first. The south shore was strangely quiet then as I approached the west bank I found out why. A dog walker with 2 off the lead dogs had just walked the full length of the west bank and was going on a second time. This would have flushed any birds present with his dogs along the waters edge so with no visibility other than the banking it was up stumps and back home to attack the garden.
                           I,ll be back up there late afternoon but if the sun gets out I doubt I,ll be alone but at least I,ll be able to do a bit of sky watching, it was 30th May last year when I got the Osprey up there that headed for Cold Edge Dams then back North over the east ridge. Hopefully history will repeat itself.
BS

Fly Flatts p.m. Return of the Dunlins.

           2 Dunlins back after a blank this morning.

1500 hrs on a hot afternoon but the east wind again saved the day after strengthening from this morning to E > 6 at 27 m.p.h. lashing white horses across the water which was ideal for the wind surfers but very few boats out.
                                               A complete reverse from this morning and back to waders with 2 Dunlin present on the west bank along with 6 Redshank and around 10 Common Sandpipers.
A few raptors were up very high to the North with the usual Curlews and Lapwings creating havoc in the sky. Eight wader species so far and hopefully by the end of May I,ll have more.
                                              More House Martins were over the water and the first 4 Swifts up there today motoring >E.
BS

Waders displaced with the big stuff. Fly Flatts a.m.

                                  Plenty big gulls on the prowl

              Over 20 mixed LBB and Herring

             Battle of the skies, Buzzard and Short Eared Owl

             SEO down for a quick rest

                 Redshank watching over young

 Canada chicks heading for the safety of the water

  Made it safely but only because I was there

                 and this fellow dare,nt come down for them.

Fly Flatts 0700 hrs with annoying sun making photos near impossible until it got higher in the sky but once again the E>5 was blowing well keeping the temperature down.
                                                              A real change around today with only 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Redshank showing and all the Dunlins from yesterday moved on and the action replaced with all big stuff in the sky.
                                  Around 20 LBBs and Herring gulls were flying around and settling on the west bank harassing the geese chicks whilst Lapwings, Curlews and Redshank  constantly mobbed them.
A single Raven  flew over the Nab whilst a Peregrine skimmed low across the water but right in the sun so missed a good photo opportunity there.
                                 Several raptors around today all over the moor at distance over Tatie Pie Hill with 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk and a battle going on between a Buzzard and Short Eared Owl, my first SEO up there since 1/8/2015 when several were present.
All in all a pleasing morning.
BS

Up with the waders. Fly Flatts.

                                          1 Oystercatcher present

                Dunlins galore, at least 8

A good example of why birds always face the wind and
fly into it to stop wear on their feathers.
This Dunlin was facing west briefly in a strong Easterly.

                Some nice bits of shoreline showing now.

   They favour the pebbly beach rather than the peat areas

                                     Dunlin and Common Sandpiper

                                                2 Dunlin together

       The large waves make them look smaller than ever.

Unfortunately yesterdays weather did,nt hang around long and today was back to the sunshine though a strong E>5 made the visit more pleasant temperature wise late afternoon where surprisingly there were 3 windsurfers  breaking the sound barrier but no boats out. Saturday is junior sailing so possibly the wind was too strong for the learners , or 'blown out' in nautical terms .
                                                                 However, the one day of rain and fog was,nt wasted as apart from wetting me through it brought in the waders with at least 8 Dunlin present as well as 11 Common Sandpipers, 5 Redshank, 3 Snipe and a single Oystercatcher.
Luckily the rain had,nt affected the water level which is continuing to drop leaving some nice areas of peat shore and pebbly beach though most of the Dunlins today stuck to the west back working their way along the cobbles.
Theres enough shore and waders present to tempt passing birds down now so watch this space.
                                                             Most birds up there now have young with Mipits and Reed Buntings carrying food and pairs of Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank and Snipe up warning off intruders.
Red Grouse seem to be in very low numbers which will hopefully mean the count won,t be high enough for the sad men to have their fun in August although Red Legged Partridge are bred and brought in to the area.
                                   Several LBB gulls were across in the NE corner hoping for a free meal whilst 8 House Martins flew low over the water >N. Thats the first time I,ve had House Martins out numbering Swift at Fly Flatts.
BS
                                                           

A traditional Fly Flatts soaking.

                          At last, Fly Flatts bart sun and blue sky.

                                        Fog coming and going

                                                     NE shore just visible

                                        Grey Wagtails now feeding young

                                         3 soggy doggies

Good to get back into tradition Fly Flatts birding gear.

On arrival at Fly Flatts at an earlier time of 1430 hrs it was damp and foggy with a slight NE>3 and feeling good to get back to some healthy fresh weather with no sign of sun and blue sky.
The fog was thick but my main objective was checking the shoreline for waders so that was,nt a problem to me although each time the rain came on heavier the fog cleared before rolling back in again.
         The cool wet conditions had done the trick livening the birds up and driving down the track it was amazing to see 9 Snipe flying from the fence posts probably keeping watch over their young.
                                                                          Down by the waters edge, around the boat compound ,Common Sandpipers were very active along with 2 Dunlin and 3 Redshank whilst Reed Buntings were constantly carrying food for their young. Several more Snipe were chipping in the juncus area although down out of sight.
                                          A walk along the west banking just produced more Common Sandpipers and several Meadow Pipits along the waters edge with very limited visibility over the water. Half way along, the heavens opened with torrential rain coming down in stair rods giving us a real good dowsing before we got back to the car so the last half hour was spent under the shelter of the tail gate
hoping for some exotic to pass through. At least the rain shifted the fog for a period so I was able to scan across the water.
                                  Ideal Tern moving conditions but this is looking like another Tern less year other than the Sandwich Tern which appeared in March.
BS