What an exhilarating day!
Black Hole Marsh has been building up nicely for a mega of some sort over the last week. So I think it is fair to say us Axe patchers were extremely disappointed on Wednesday evening to hear a Marsh Sandpiper had dropped in with a manky flock of Redshank in the less than ideal habitat of the mudlats of the south end of the Exe Estuary. See Dawlish Warren blog post HERE.
We all knew it had gone to the wrong place - a foolish mistake by a clearly inexperienced youngster! However having missed us first time around, we hoped it would realise its error and reorientate, and it did just that - although took a day longer than I expected!
What an absolutely beautiful and graceful wader, literally a mini-Greenshank. And I bloody love a Greenshank as it is! A brilliant find by Phil at 06:15 this morning...
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| A pristine juvenile Marsh Sandpiper |
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| Reminded me of a stilt at times with those long thin legs |
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| A little further away but in different light |
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| In the same frame as a sleeping Greenshank - double the size! |
It remained in view all day encouraging a steady stream of visitors throughout. This is our first 'patch first' of the year, in fact it's the first one since Great Shearwater in August 2023. Marsh Sandpiper is the 271st species on my Axe patch list.
I am absolutely delighted for Phil, who has been checking Black Hole every morning for probably the whole month! A great effort - and good proof that methodical and repeated effort will always deliver in the end.
The Marsh Sand was sharing the reserve with good numbers and an excellent selection of wading birds. All the waders from my last post (except the Bar-tailed Godwit) were still present, and had been joined the previous night by two Little Stint, of which one showed ok for me this morning...
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| Both were gorgeous fresh juvs |
I was at Black Hole early yesterday (ironically looking for the Marsh Sand!) and although there was nothing new, the light offered some really nice photo opportunities and I couldn't resist this Greenshank...
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| A juv Greenshank just starting to moult into first-winter plumage |
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| Or this Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Or this duo... not what any small fish wants to be around! |
Nothing beats a proper rare on the patch! Thanks again Phil.
I was there this morning Steve, part of the excitement of seeing the Marsh Sandpiper and other goodies on offer. I enjoyed your pics, in great light, to relive the day. Cheers John
ReplyDeleteHi John. Thanks so much for the comment, and delighted you were part of the early excitement caused by this cracking bird. And thanks for the kind comments regarding my photographs. See you around, Steve.
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