A Quickie

Well this is going to be a rapid fire blog post as I've got a busy couple of days coming up.

This Shoveler has been present on the Borrow Pit (Seaton Marshes) for about a week now...

This was the only bird worthy of note on Seaton Marshes on 1st Sept - shocking considering the date!

The rain today seemed to bring nothing better in to the Estuary than a few colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gulls and these two Sandwich Terns...

Adult and juvenile

The water levels on Black Hole Marsh have risen over the last few days, but the waders that are still present are showing superbly as the best mud seems to be near the Island Hide.  All pics taken with my Nikon P900...

Ruff and Little Ringed Plover (both juvs)

Two Ruff, both juvs but both very different colours!

Ruff posing nicely.

But I prefer this Ruff photo due to the colours

Juv LRP. Compared to Ringed Plover note the narrow yellow eye ring, diffuse sandy colour over the eye and bill, and the sticking out arse!

Slightly different view of an LRP!

The start of September has been very disappointing for passerine migrants, with the odd Wheatear and only Yellow Wagtails featuring in any real numbers. Really gripped by a Grasshopper Warbler ringed by the Axe Estuary Ringing Group on Stafford Marsh this morning though! (Pic HERE).

Loving the weather forecast for next week.  A nice high coming in from the south east which should bring plenty of scarce passerines (Wrynecks, Barred and Icterine Warbler, etc), plus there's a great chance of an American wader with this current front that's come in from the west, several Pectoral and Buff-breasted Sandpipers turning up at the moment. I know which one I would prefer....