Hornsea Mere Revisited

Having seen the recent reports about the good numbers of common sandpipers at Hornsea Mere I couldn't resist in having a go for them.
I set myself up in a likely spot and waited.
When I got to my spot a small flock flew off as well as a wood sandpiper.
Once I got set up it didn't take long for the birds to come back, some more obliging than others.
First was the juvenile common tern, almost oblivious to me as it came within 2 metres of my bag hide.
Then it was the greenshank, a little more wary but still good views at 10m.
Finally the common sands came back, always distant they had a small group of rocks they preferred and they didn't stray too far away.
In between there were plenty of little gulls to look at, a little egret that flew by also hundreds of swifts and swallows hunting low over the water.
A cracking evening, would like to get a shot of the wood sand so will be back again.

Hornsea Mere

Been down to Hornsea Mere acouple of times this week.
The first was just a recce, got some decent views of a hunting barn owl and there were plenty of litle gulls but quite distant.
the second time I went I was better prepared and I managed a cuple of shots of the barn owl.
On the foreshore there was a little more action with lapwing,common tern,common sandpiper and the best bird a wood sandpiper, plus the little gulls were a bit closer and I managed a cuple of shots.
Last night when I went it was overcast so not so good for photography but saw a black tern,greenshank,dunlin,oystercatcher,greenshank,a couple of little terns and again distant little gulls.
the water levels are quite low and if the drought continues and other traditional water holes (Swine Moor) dry out, it might just produce a goodie!
Will be back a few times over the summer to check out.

Summer Waders

I had a superb couple of hours checking out the waders at Blacktoft last night.
I went to marshland hide to start but the sun was almost straight into the hide with not a lot to look at.
The walk back to Townend was pretty uneventful with just whitethroat,sedge warbler and reed warbler.
When I got to the hide the sun and light was perfect although the waders were pretty distant.
A good selection including avocet,snipe,redshank,spotted redshank,greenshank,green sandpiper,lapwing and ruff.
The tide was coming in and after a while the waders came closer to the hide and one particular ruff was spectacular in its summer finery.It also had some rings on each leg, I would welcome any advice on where it miht have come from.
I have checked out a couple of sites on the net but I'll put a couple of shots on BF to see if anyone knows any more gen.
I was pleasantly suprised by the amount of waders on show.
(in total contrast to Paull tonight where there were hardly any).