28th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - At one point this morning there were 11 species of wader on East Scrape - Grey Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin (Alpina), Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Avocet, Snipe & fly over Oystercatcher. Mid afternoon 2 Dunlin [West Scrape] (M Whalley] and late evening Turnstone and Grey Plover still (A Hyde).
Birchmoor Flash - Avocet (dont know who found it - so R Smith, A Archer & @ladywalknature). Later 2 Avocet (A Archer).

Turnstone - RSPB Middleton East Scrape

Yesterday's torrential rain has had tragic consequences on the breeding birds throughout the valley. Ladywalk is inaccessible, I'm told the islands on KWP Cliff Pool have gone and Middleton is just one lake with the river flowing directly into Southern Meadow, Fishers Mill and Jubilee. Most if not all ground nests have been lost. This year there have been two pairs of breeding Avocet with eggs due to hatch today and on the 8th of June. Both nests are now several feet under. On the same date last year after spells of heavy rain two nest were lost although one is believed to have been predated. Neither pair attempted a second clutch so it's doubtful this year's birds will especially as they are already late due to the previous flood. Let's keep our fingers crossed though as you never know.

RSPB Middleton East Scrape - Where all the action was this morning. What a difference in just a few hours