Waders Spotted

Well not a wader but a lot of Common Darters were emerging last week.

Normally I'm very impatient and not one for sitting in a hide for hours. Sunday morning was different as I was entertained by several Snipe very close to the hide. (Sadly they were a bit too close and the fence got in the way.). Also the news of other waders on the field kept me searching. Eventually they all appeared, mostly distant and always briefly.

Green Sandpiper

Although distant the eye stripe stopping at the eye a good ID tip. Also when they fly the dark wings and white rump are very obvious (almost black against white)

It was never dull in front of the hide as Reed Buntings, Willow Warblers and Sedge Warblers chased around the fence line.

Again distant, this more elegant Wood Sandpiper shows the eye-stripe continuing well behind the eye.

The Spotted Redshank didn't give any good photo opportunities on Sunday, so I returned this morning (Monday). Again it was only giving glimpses until it suddenly decided to walk fairly close to the hide. Patience rewarded.

Juvenile Spotted Redshank

Eye-stripe and completely dark upper mandible two good ID tips. In flight the lack of a broad white trailing edge to the wing is a clincher as is the disyllabic call a bit like a fluty willow warbler call.

Into August and birds are dispersing. IR trapped Treecreeper and Lesser Whitethroat at Druridge. Today a Lesser Whitethroat was in the Hadston Dunes. GW saw a Wheatear on the Coal Road and I saw a Whinchat at Chevington.

Two to Three weeks  and I'll be expecting Greenish, Barred and Icterine Warblers weather permitting. Glass always half-full (unless it has beer in it)!