Fly Flatts. The showers deliver the goods.

                                       More new arrivals. 7 Ringed Plover

                                                    4 at distance

Late afternoon at Fly Flatts in great conditions for movers but not very good for me with the soaking of the year twice over but well worth it. Torrential showers constantly moving over but getting the resident birds out feeding and waders dropping from the sky in the rain.
                                                           A count of 31 Dunlin just at the south end and several more along the east shoreline. During the heaviest of the rain 11 Dunlin dropped out of the sky from the SE landing on the south end pools. Whether these 11 are new in or just coming from the moor I dont know until I get to do a count tomorrow dependent on the weather.If they are new birds in it will take the Dunlin count to over 50. Swifts were once again piling through >N.
                                        On at the NW corner I was occupied scoping the east and north shoreline not thinking about the showers as it had brightened up a bit since the last downpour but as I turned around, the biggest pile of rain was ploughing across the moor with my name on it. Just time to tackle up, get Bertha under my coat and get the dogs coats on before it hit like someone using a hose pipe. By the time we got back near the car we were dripping but as we arrived near the car 7 small white looking waders dropped down in the SW corner.
                                       By the time we,d had a wipe down and dried the gear the rain stopped and it brightened up again so out with the scope to check what had dropped in. The 7 small waders were Ringed Plover and were on the south shoreline near the corner.
Off again with tripod up and Bertha primed and ready for action and just time to get some shots before the heavens opened and we got dunked on with a second dose.
                                    Despite the wet, a cracking day at Fly Flatts in ideal weather for reservoir watchers. Rain forecast again tomorrow but less windy and from the >NE turning>N so could be another interesting day.
BS

Back to the wild west, Fly Flatts a.m.

                                           Dunlins everywhere.

                                         Dunlin and Redshank

                                        Swifts still piling through

                                  Dunlins out on the estuary.

Another wet and wild morning at Fly Flatts with heavy rain shiowers on a moderate W>5 but good visibility apart from trying to scope the east bank through a wind blown scope.
                                                Once again the whole area was alive with Dunlin along every shoreline and several in the SE corner now that the rain has topped up the pools. This is the first year I,ve had Dunlin outnumbering Common Sandpiper.
                                                The big Swift move continued this morning with birds heading >N throughout. Otherwise it was down to the usual species with onlt 12 big gulls present.
BS

Fly Flatts late afternoon dabble.

                                        A late staying male Wheatear

                                                3 Ringed Plover

                                    Dunlin and Ringed Plover

                                           Small gull on the right had me going

       Looked a real oddball but got to be a second summer Common

                                    Strange time of year for a Common gull

                                  Herrings outnumbering LBBs today.

A brighter afternoon after this mornings drenching with 50 % cloud cover and some sunshine though the wind had increased to W>6.
                                                 Swifts were still moving through on a broad front with several over Bradshaw on my way and a continuous flow over the water at Fly Flatts all >NW.
3 Ringed Plovers had joined the 40 + Dunlin but kept confined to the NE shore across the water which made them difficult to see on the wet reflecting mud.
                                              Again a small number of big gulls, mainly Herrings with only 28 present whilst a smaller gull appeared looking strange and out of place. An unusual visitor to Fly Flatts and especially this time of year being a second summer Common gull although it did have me consulting the books when I got home, just in case.
                                                Another unusual find was a male Wheatear which I thought would all have gone through by now.
Same forecast again for tomorrow so it could mean another soaking with strong winds and showers for the morning but well worth it if it drops something in.
BS

Fly Flatts a.m. Horrific but good reservoir watching conditions.

Fly Flatts this morning was horrendous with a howling WSW>5 and continuous horizontal heavy drizzle throughout. Visibility was poor with mist banks moving across from the west though it was always possible to see across the water.
                                                         Scoping the shorelines was a task and a half but the large Dunlin flock was still present along with Common Sandpipers and Redshanks. No gulls on the shoreline again this morning either due to the winds or just getting bored with the place.
                                                        An ideal moving day but no Terns through as yet but several Herring gulls all >NE as well as an unusual 4 Mistle Thrush and a pair of Tufted in the same direction.
Swifts were the bird of the morning with possibly around 100 over the water all >NW , these being either movers or a feeding party moving ahead of the weather front, either way, a spectacular sight to see.
      By 1000 hrs I had achieved a reet good soaking, got 3 soggy dogs and with bins, camera and scope wet and steamed up I let common sense take over, which is unusual for me, and headed home to get my gear dried off ready for a possible second soaking late afternoon.
BS

Fly Flatts, a.m/p.m.

                                         Very few gulls today.

                                        Dunlins on the south shore

                                         Dunlins on the distant NE shore.

  Canadas and young, Mallards and Dunlin.

                                         Canadas and Dunlins

                                         Herring gull, 3rd summer.

                                   Only 2 Ringed Plovers found over on the NE shore.

                                                            LBB fly over.

                                                Several Reed buntings present.

 Common Sandpiper wondering if its classed
                as a windsurfer.

A decent morning with a bright start then 100% cloud cover on a light W>4 which increased late afternoon to W>5 with light rain throughout.
                                                     Still a count of over 40 Dunlin with 22 on the south shore alone and at least 20 on the east shore but only 2 Ringed Plover present today along with the usual Redshanks and Common Sandpipers.
                                     Several Snipe are still up displaying whilst Curlews have quietened down now, many busy guarding young.
At least 30 Golden plover are on the Flat Moor but are only seen when spooked by a raptor. Short Eared Owl are seen regular and a report from a lady dog walker see,s Barn Owl regular at the northern end, this is probably one of the Oxenhope birds.
                                       The Greylag  goslings are growing well now and are about the size of Teal with only 1 lost out of two families of 3 and 7. Plenty Canada goslings now coming off the moor which strangely the gulls show very little interest in but would rather search for eggs or Lapwing and Curlew chicks though gull numbers are decreasing daily with only 23 this morning and none this afternoon though this could have been due to windsurfers on the water.
                                         Quiet in the skies with just a few LBB gulls over and one very noisy BH gull. Strong westerlies for tomorrow and rain which may spice the job up a bit for reservoir watchers.
BS