randombirder

The south-coast is now in reach, a generous hour and fifteen away and proves to be a great escape when on a Saturday the hangover of a working week feels heavy on the mind. The initial part of the walk round the reserve is dominated by the sound of thunderous traffic belting along the A27.  Heading towards the estuary, the traffic fades out to a distant hum, replaced instead by the echoes of piping waders as they began to fly in on a rapidly rising tide. Only common waders but a joy to see large groups of Common Redshank , their red legs illuminated by the warm sun that had finally penetrated the grey skies.  There were decent numbers of Dunlin on the lake, many still in summer plumage.  Black-tailed Godwit began to fly in, around seven Greenshank were mobile, with two Whimbrel and a Turnstone seen off-shore.  A minimum count of 117 Grey Plover were occupying the exposed islands with small groups wheeling around the bay, many again still in summer a...