Daily visits to Brandon Marsh over the past week, mainly observing East Marsh Pool in the hope of some decent Waders and culminating in this mornings visit which produced:
Peregrine,
Greenshank, (2)
Snipe, (2)
Green Sandpipers, (3)
Little-ringed Plover,
Little Egret and (4)
Common Tern, which included two juveniles. With the heavy rain showers lots of Hirundines feeding low over the pool too with double-figure
House Martins,
Sand Martins and the odd
Swallow. A fleeting view of a
Water Rail as it hoped, skipped and jumped across the mud in front of the hide and a flyby
Kingfisher were other notables. No sign of yesterdays
Wood Sandpiper by the time I left just after midday but as I type a report from John Osbourne at 3pm today has the bird back on the pool!
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| Greenshank feeding in front of East Marsh Hide today |
The best of the week's sightings came during yesterdays visit when after picking up Theo de Clermont
@clermont_de I arrived on site at around midday. Straight through to East Marsh Hide where it wasn't long before we had eyes on a
Wood Sandpiper, which had been reported earlier in the day. Unfortunately, at this stage the bird preferring to remain feeding out towards the Wright Hide. Further scanning produced (3)
Greenshank, (3)
Green Sandpiper, (4)
Snipe, (3)
Little-ringed Plover, (4)
Common Terns, including two juveniles and a single
Common Sandpiper.
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| Wood Sandpiper feeding along the edge of Tern Island ~ Canon SX50 |
Later in the afternoon, we made a couple of visits to the Wright Hide, predominantly to obtain closer views of the
Wood Sandpiper. However, while here during one of those visits a huge eruption on the pool alerted us to a small falcon, probably a
Hobby but our attention was immediately focused on a larger bird of prey slightly higher, a
Marsh Harrier. Having lost sight from the hide better views were obtained as we bolted outside to watch the bird drift North, Theo thankfully obtaining a record shot before it departed.
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| Theo's record shot of passing Marsh Harrier |
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| Greenshank & Wood Sandpiper from Wright Hide ©Theo de Clermont |
