Patch perfect

A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper dropped in at BLGP this evening, giving me one of the most enjoyable hours that I've ever had on patch. The bird was initially doing the rounds with a skittish juvenile Wood Sandpiper, but ditched its company after a brief visit to Baston Fen.

Flying off towards Baston Fen with a Wood Sandpiper, shortly after discovery.

Once on its own, the outlook for good shots improved exponentially. Over an hour or so spent with the bird, I managed to approach to within close range, although ended up having to lie in goose droppings, mud and stinking water for more than an hour.

Back at Wader Pit a short while later, this time lacking nervous Wood Sand companion ... game on.

As I edged closer, the light was getting better and better as the sun sank away towards the west. Despite being just a few metres away, the bird showed little concern for my presence as it went about its ways.

Then, shortly before 7pm, a small flock of waders flew in to join the Curlew Sand – two Dunlin and three Ringed Plovers. They fed for a few minutes together before all barrelling off high to the south-west. What an experience and a reminder (if needed) of why so little in the world of birds comes close to waders.