Sunday 7 June 2009

Chelmarsh - Wood Sandpiper

Crikey, as if one decent bird wasn't enough, this stormy weekend continued to produce! Wet + miserable = good birds? With Andy covering Mire lake (big clear out there), myself checking Venus Pool (Black tailed Godwit and two Common Terns through), it was Yvonne who hit the jackpot with a cracking find - Wood Sandpiper on Chelmarsh scrape!

Not surprisingly, I was over there with Andy quite smartly - the bird was instantly obliging - record shots in the gloom and continuous rain were duly taken.

Such a busy bird too, methodically covering much of the scrape, constantly picking up small insects from the water surface.














A call back later that evening produced a few more shots - the light was better although the bird was backlit viewed from the 'ringers' hide.











Almost needing a machete, I managed to break through the jungle surrounding the far hide! At least the light direction was better for photography from here but the Wood Sand a bit distant. A great bird nevertheless, best images of this species I've managed to date and thinking back - just like the Curlew Sandpiper, the first one I've had in Shropshire outside of the Autumn period!









It's June and three more year ticks added to the County year list in a 36 hour period (two of these UK year too!) What is going on.......