A Quieter Day On BHM But With A Different Wader

 The majority of the Wood sandpipers and the 2 curlew sands have moved on and yesterday was a much quieter day than of late, but there was a knot which although not rare here, are not that common either.  Initially it spent time way over the back of the marsh but suddenly moved much closer and then flew in quite close to the island hide

Wood sands everywhere followed by curlew sands

Sunday morning Ian M and Phil counted 27 wood sandpipers.  Following a text from Ian M I popped over to BHM late morning in the rain (having first queried the 27 foolishly thinking that Ian must have pushed a wrong key - I should have known better).  There were wood sandpipers dotted around everywhere you looked.  Absolutely wonderful to see.  After a quick look I went home for lunch before returning by which time the weather was much improved.  By the evening I heard that the 27 had become 33/34!  It was great for photos as many were so close to the island hide as you see.  Some taken here are posing together with some of our other passing waders.

The little stint has been present for a few days now and has been much photographed

Being given a peck from a passing dunlin

This was following another peck this time from the passing ring plover

This lapwing was asking to be photographed flying round the hide

A passing greenshank also present for the last few days

and 2 swimmers 

and lastly monday afternoon and another message from Ian M 2 curlew sands on BHM.  Not the best quality photos I'm afraid but they were lovely birds.

Quality birds continue with a little stint excitement

Well.  A third post in nearly as many days!  Must be a record for me.  Yesterday was an open day over the Seaton Marshes wetlands which appeared well attended and much appreciated by all.  May have been helped with the bacon butties and barbecue of course.  I think we should all give a big thank you to all the volunteers that work so hard behind the scenes on the reserve.  Many of whom give up a fair bit of time and effort to do so.  

Anyway, the afternoon caused some interest when a little stint was thought to possibly be another rarity on patch, but eventually with the appearance of Dave and Roger from Chard and finally from our Phil after work it was confirmed between them as a little stint.  Still a nice little bird to have on patch.  I was sent a picture last night of a sparrowhawk taking one of the little waders from the group containing the little stint so hopefully it wasn't the one taken.

With the water levels now perfect the waders have continued to show well from most areas.  The weather was beautiful yesterday and there were up to 7 ruffs and at least 5 wood sandpipers still present.

The ruffs were coming particularly close.

This time of year my post can never be complete without  a dunlin or two.

Even our wonderful black tailed godwits were coming in close as they are usually further over at the back of the marsh.

Finally some rather distant photos of yesterdays little stint that caused such interest.  It never came particularly close while I was there so these are the best I could manage.

After the baird's

After the excitement of the baird's life on Black Hole Marsh still continues with some wonderful birdlife.  The mud is perfect at the moment and there were at least 7 ruffs present on the marshes and at least 2 wood sandpipers on Black Hole marsh.  The usual dunlin and ring plovers have been present, along with green and common sandpipers and what follows are a few of the birds that have been present over the last 2 days.

A wood sandpiper in the early evening light.

One of the ruffs near the island hide

and a young oyster catcher flying in to join 14 other oyster catchers on the marsh at high tide.  It still has not quite got those stunning coloured red eyes.

A beautiful sedge first seen by Tim Wright in the reeds just in front of the island hide

and one of quite a few lapwing

A water rail in a hurry across from the Tower hide

and a herring gull with lunch

 Finally a couple of ring plover pictures.  Always nice.