Another early start, not just to beat the traffic this time but to enjoy some good birding, before the temperature soars into the high seventies once more. Not too much wader activity at first, with a small gathering of Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets which have been present for some time. Ten Dunlin were probably passage birds and a similar number of Redshank were in the foreground. Redshanks resting and preening. A Spotted Redshank flew in, giving me brief views before all the waders and gulls took flight - a juvenile Peregrine was flying low over the mud and looking pretty menacing. The Peregrine did a good job of clearing the mudflats and I was left with only the Grey Herons and Little Egrets to admire. In time the birds began to return, two Curlews settled with a substantial flock of Lapwings. The Redshanks came back and brought a Green Sandpiper in with them. Green Sandpiper. There was little change for a while, quiet enough for a Roe Deer to walk across in front of me! A rather surprising arrival was this female Goosander, which is far from in its usual type of habitat and was the only duck species, apart from Mallards. The Green Sandpiper left the Redshank flock and was soon replaced by this Ruff which seems to be adopting a winter plumage already. The Water Rails exploded into life suddenly after not seeing or hearing them for a couple of hours. Adult birds were squealing from two directions and in front of me were two juveniles and a very small black chick. I was lucky to see an adult calling repeatedly, something I hear often but from a concealed location. The juvenile Rails were a little more wary and secretive, but showed quite well in time.
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