randombirder

After a recce across to Broom East Gravel Pits the evening before, I discovered that a scope was essential here.  I discovered this as I couldn't really see anything across the scrape apart from the huge gathering of boisterous Greylags and a smattering of wildfowl. It looks great, and previous records boast a tidy selection of scarce vagrants as well as a healthy list of migrant waders. The water levels are low at the moment exposing a fair amount of mud - perfect for wading birds. A first proper look at this south Bedfordshire site resulted in the continuing  Pectoral Sandpiper, a great inland record and only my third for the UK.  A really well marked juvenile that flew in after being absent for most of the afternoon. Other waders here included singles of Common Sandpiper , Green Sandpiper , and  Common Snipe . Wildlife numbers were generally low, still early days but good variety led by an eclipse Garganey along with 32 Teal , two Wigeon , and three Little Gre

It's hot these days, not that I'm complaining but spending too much time out in the full glare of our sun isn't sensible.  A quick cycle out of town exploring my new environs in North Herts was well overdue. It's great to be out in the countryside again. The reported Whinchat were still present just off the Wallington Road with six present along a hedgeline that held three Corn Bunting , a Yellowhammer and a Common Whitethroat . Later from the flat balcony, a Yellow Wagtail flew low over, two Red Kite and a Common Buzzard were thermalling high over the town, and at least 15 late Swift were hawking insects against a glorious blue late summer sky.

Days at Frampton are seldom dull, and at this time of year when wader migration is reaching its zenith, this east-coast area of mature saltmarsh typifies the landmass providing an oasis for wading birds as they arrow south from their arctic breeding grounds. The sunflower meadow close to the visitor centre was really eyecatching. It was a humid afternoon but with a keen breeze that made scoping across the marsh challenging at times.  Particularly in the ultimately successful attempt at connecting with the Buff-breasted Sandpiper that eventually showed itself associating with a group of linearly dispersed Lapwing distantly across the marsh. A mere fifteen minutes earlier, the long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher was seen roosting close to the sea wall with a Black-tailed Godwit , of which at least a hundred were spread widely across the marsh. There were plenty of wader highlights with two Wood Sandpiper seen adjacent from the top car park, two Curlew Sandpiper on pools cl