It was years before I saw my first Barred Warbler and now, I try and see them whenever they occur. They are a large, grey warbler, notorious for skulking and that provides the challenge to seek them out. I found this morning's first winter bird around 7-00am, as the rising sun put some warmth into the hedgerow near Beacon Ponds. Speed was essential to get a photographic record as its appearance was short-lived and it was back in the thick hawthorn bush in no time. It did show on further occasions for those prepared to wait. Typical Barred Warbler - disappearing!! The light was superb along this hedgerow and a Willow Warbler emerged, no doubt to warm up and dry off, after a night's heavy rain. A Whinchat was seen perched on the fence behind the hedgerow. High tide was around 1120am this morning and I was hoping for some interesting waders on the Wetlands. A small flock of Knots flew across Beacon Ponds and showed their wing shape nicely in flight. Waders failed to appear in any numbers at all over high tide. A juvenile Spotted Redshank was picked out, among the distant Redshanks, showing the prominent white over the eye and barring pattern on coverts. (shown as centre bird). The Wood Sandpiper remains on the Wetlands at the Western end. The arrival of an adult Great Black-backed Gull dwarfed the surrounding Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls - what a size!! Leaving the Wetlands, I went to Sammy's Point and found 3 Northern Wheatears along the track. Sammy's was very quiet, apart from a nice Spotted Flycatcher I found in the bushes. ....... and one for the 'dragon-flyers'.
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