Sunday morning plans were put to one side when Al phoned to tell me Andy Whitcomb had found a juvenile Bairds' Sandpiper on the meanders at Cuckmere Haven. Within forty minutes a long overdue Sussex tick was safely UTB as the bird performed obligingly on the first meander, a real classic "weetabix on legs".
An early morning meander across the levels with Hazel produced little other than a Wheatear on Down Level although there was a lot of Raven activity with 4 birds "cronking" around including the individual pictured above. There were also 3 Hobby hawking dragons, and a smattering of Yellow Wags, but otherwise it was pretty quiet. Best of midweek were a couple of Blackwit on Down on Thursday evening. Elsewhere I put in an appearance at Staines Reservoir on Friday afternoon, not twitching but dodging the rush hour traffic having dropped Rachael in High Wycombe. I failed to see the Pec, or Curlew Sand, amongst the distant wader flocks which included numerous Greenshank, Blackwit, several Ruff, a couple of LRP, numerous Ringed Plover, many Dunlin, a couple of Common Sand, and a single Green Sand. I also had stunning views of a couple of Black-necked Grebe, one of which was still immaculate in summer plumage, and several Yellow Wags.
Moth trapping has been quietening down again with the night of the 2nd producing a single Canary-shouldered Thorn, the best moth of the week. The Common Darter pictured above was flying sorties in the garden today. Keep it real.
