Stunning Spotted Redshank, Black Hole Marsh

By far the best views I've ever had of a Spotted Redshank, at Black Hole Marsh this evening. The bird still wasn't particularly close but I've had bad luck with these in previous years so I'm content with what I managed:

There's many more pics to come but I have places to be tonight. Tim Wright also found a Knot and Little Stint around the Axe Valley today so it was a decent day. What will tomorrow bring..?

Photo catch up from the week

Rather pushed for time so just pics on this post! Update on recent happenings to come soon...

Teal

Teal

Ringed Plover

Redshank

 

LITTLE CRAKE pic & other BHM posers

Black Hole Marsh has been great for wader photography this week, with Greenshank and Ruff being pleasantly obliging. A few nice pics and brief views of the stunning juvenile LITTLE CRAKE certainly brightened up my week, which can only otherwise be described as really f****** awful. There's only so long I can put up with working 7 days / 100 hours a week, and I think that's rapidly coming to an end from a health perspective! Getting ever more tempted to ditch one or two of my many jobs to allow more birding time as the wildlife is pretty much all that keeps me sane at the moment. Here's a few pics from recent Black Hole Marsh visits:

Little Crake

Turnstone

Ruff

Ruff

Ruff

Greenshank

LITTLE CRAKE at Black Hole Marsh

When I saw Steve's tweet this morning informing of a Spotted Crake on BHM, I wished I'd popped down for one of my usual early morning visits. But then the pic from Sue made it clear that it was in fact, not a Spotted Crake. So... whack out a holiday form, leave work, grab camera gear and head straight to the marsh. Okay so I did look a bit silly being hideously overdressed in my work clothes, but nevermind! The views were VERY distant but for a Crake the bird was pleasantly showy. Here's one of the pics:

First in Britain since 2011? And more or less on my doorstep? Oh this is a good day...

8 Curlew Sandpipers arrive at Black Hole Marsh

I popped to BHM late afternoon to see if anything new was in; texting has been quiet lately (apart from mine). I quickly found 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper from Island Hide, albeit distant views. Ian Waite joined me and we located another 2, and then another 3! 8 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers all coming in at once... could this be a repeat of last year when we had 17+ ? I sent the messages out and Tim Wright and Sue Smith also joined me. The birds did eventually come quite close but it was getting dumpsy and the light direction was horrible:

A Turnstone and a Ruff also put in a brief appearance close to Island hide:

Black Hole Marsh update - Pics

I've been struggling to get out lately but I have holiday to use from work this month and I'm determined to use it for birding/photography rather than working one of my other jobs! Black Hole Marsh continues to provide great photographic opportunities; a Kestrel hovering close in was nice to see:

There has also been 3 - 4 Yellow Wagtails joining the roost of Pied Wagtails on Black Hole Marsh each evening. Shots are a bit ropey as the birds come in to roost when it's fairly dull/dark. Still, good to see these characterful Wags:

Kingfishers Battling - the intensity increases...

Lots more pics from this scrap to follow; it was a fight to near death as the birds tried to drown each other for over 5 minutes. This pic was taken as the challenger first approached the bird already perched on the stump: