Swinemoor Stakeout!

I started off at Spurn yesterday and hoped for some rare migrants, although there were a few birds about it was disappointing.In the afternoon I heard of a temmincks stint at Swine Moor.
I thought I would take the dog along to have a look and sure enough it was feeding quite close to the main bank with a party of little ringed and ringed plovers.
I thought I would be able to get a shot if it came back to the same place so I set off before dawn this morning complete with bag hide.
Luckily there was nothing on the pool when I arrived so I crept to the edge and waited.
There were a few lapwings and redshanks about plus a very confiding pied wagtail (down to 3ft!) then after a couple of hours a little ringed plover came nearby.I thought I might as well get a few shots of that seeing as it was quite close then the temmincks stint scurried past the LRP!
It stayed for about 15mins feeding and preening then a greenshank came along.
After that, the whole lot got flushed by a roving sparrowhawk so I thought it a good time to pack up.
It was a superb experience out in the early morning, nice weather surrounded by brilliant birds and to top it some really close views of a rare migrant.
I was back in the house at 8.30 for breakfast.
Cracking.
Temmincks Stint

Temmincks Stint

Temmincks Stint

Temmincks Stint

Temmincks Stint

Temmincks Stint

Greenshank

Greenshank

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Redshank

Lapwing

Wood Sandpiper

I went to a couple of spots at the weekend, first was Patrington Haven with george (the dog)in very blustery conditions.
No waders but quite a few yellow wagtails, single sedge warbler and whitethroat also 3 distant marsh harriers and a couple of little egrets was about the best of it.
I thought I would go to North Cave after tea and after a sharp shower the sun came out and the wind eased making for a nice evening, albeit a bit chilly.
Common sandpiper and a few avocets from turret hide, then round to island lake in the hope of some little ringed plovers, my attention was distracted by a singing sedge warbler and I tried without succes for about an hour to get a shot, on the way back I noticed a small wader being chased by a redshank on one of the islands.
When I managed to get a bit closer I realised it was a wood sandpiper, no doubt the one reported earlier in the day.
It was feeding along the waters edge and gradually getting closer, I managed a few shots in the nice evening light, but just as I hoped it would come even closer it took flight and was lost to view.
No LRP's but I was happy with the wood sand.

Black Redstart

I had a ride out to Spurn this morning in the hope of a blue headed wagtail.
I went to the Point first and almost as soon as I got there I heard this superb black redstart calling.
It was a bit dull at first but after a walk round the parade ground and bushes, the sun came out and this little fellow performed brilliantly.
Spending some time calling on the sea wall he then dropped down to feed sometimes coming within 10 feet (so close that i couldn't focus).
After spending a couple of hours on Point I went up to the canal zone and saw some common migrants plus a very nice clouded yellow.
No wagtails on walker butts and only pied at Sammy's Point so pretty quiet generally.
We need a nic fall of Spring migrants, but for that to happen we need a change in the weather.