Pectoral Sandpiper

Rye Harbour NR - cool, overcast, drizzle, sw 4 - Spent the day over the border in Sussex guiding for Pat and Les from Lydd. A circuit of the Beach Reserve delivered two Whimbrels, 20 Dunlins and a Common Sandpiper on the migrant wader front, plus six Sanderlings and a Turnstone on the Camber side, all adult birds. Also plenty of Redshanks, Curlews and Ringed Plovers, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, and Linnets, around the site along with 20 Little Egrets, two Yellow Wagtails, five Swifts, 12 Little Terns, six Sandwich Terns and at least 20 pairs of Common Terns with juveniles.

                                Sea Heath, Rye Harbour

                                Bedraggled Meadow Pipit                               

                                Whimbrel on the salt marsh

                                Little Egrets

Pett Level - Hadn`t been here for a while, so was pleasantly surprised to find superb wader habitat from the two hides along Pannel Valley, a most peaceful spot in this noisy world of ours. An adult Pectoral Sandpiper was the highlight along with three Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper and several Little Ringed Plovers, including a pair with tiny, second brood young. Two juvenile Marsh Harriers, not long out of the nest, played havoc with the birds on the scrape which also included breeding Common Tern, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Shelduck, 10 Pied Wagtails, Stock Dove, Lapwings and Oystercatchers. On Pett pools the Furruginous Duck was still present amongst common wildfowl and several Dabchicks.
  A decent day`s birding for the guests with over 70 species noted including some smart waders.

                                Pannel Valley

                                Roosting Greenshanks