Sunday July 27 - Morton Bagot

 This morning Dave and I were joined by Andy Gooding, and we proceeded on the usual circuit on what would prove to be an eventful visit. For the first thirty minutes the only highlight was a distant adult Red Kite, followed by three more circling over Bannams. These last three were considered to be juveniles from the neatness of their flight feathers.

Andy had seen three Little Egrets flying over before he joined us, and we later saw one of these (presumably) flying back the other way. He also spotted a Froglet and a young Toad in the nick of time before my size nines descended on them. For some reason, Toads are much commoner at Morton Bagot than Frogs are.

Frog above, Toad below

The walk came to an abrupt standstill when we reached the ridge from which it is possible to scope the furthest flash. I started scanning, noting that 60 Greylags had landed there, and that there were a few Lapwings. I then spotted a "proper" wader in the form of a Green Sandpiper. Near that was a slightly smaller, lighter backed wader. At first I thought it might be the Common Sandpiper I'd seen last time, but as it kept disappearing and reappearing amongst the rushes at the back of the scrape, I began to feel sure it was actually a Wood Sandpiper. At one point the two waders flew, and both had square white rumps. 

Unfortunately we were three birders sharing one scope. Although a second Green Sandpiper then appeared, it was always obvious which was the Wood Sandpiper. It was slightly smaller, paler, its neck slightly more extended upright, and its back end shorter than the Green Sands. Eventually I relinquished the scope for Dave to have a look and he concurred with the identification, commenting that he could see a hint of spangling on its back. 

I should say that even with a scope the bird was very distant. Andy eventually got his turn, while Dave and I discussed what we'd got on it. The only inconsistent feature was that neither of us could see a whiteish supercilium which is usually so obvious on Wood Sands. This could be explained if the bird was an adult, which would have a more uniform head.

As you may have guessed from all this screed, the bird was not photographed. After the bird seemed to disappear we decided to check the nearest flash. If nothing else I was keen to see the record 20 Green Sandpipers counted by John Chidwick yesterday. 

Disappointingly, with the flash pool once again full of water, we could only see six or seven of them, and still no sign of the Wood Sand. We went back to the traditional viewing spot at fence level, but closer to the furthest flash than we had been. Rather gallingly we hadn't previously noticed that the grass in the flash field had been mowed, so we would have had a half decent view and maybe I'd even have got a record shot if we proceeded forward to the fence instead of scoping from the top of the hill. Now it was too late and all the Sandpipers had disappeared.

It was time for me to return. Dave and Andy decided to go for a wander in the hope of finding another wet area where the Wood Sand may have gone.

I later heard they'd been unsuccessful. I returned in the afternoon, but saw only three Green Sandpipers, although five young Mistle Thrushes in the flash field was noteworthy.