Short-eared Owl

Lade - cool, sunny, NW 3 - A much better day than yesterday`s horror show with the cold northerly relenting somewhat. We spent most of the morning surveying breeding birds on the local patch where there was no great surprises; Lesser Whitethroats still outnumbered Common Whitethroats, while more Reed and Sedge Warblers have taken up territories, the latter particularly so in Mockmill sewer where there was at least 10 singers. On the trudge back across the shingle I almost stepped on a Short-eared Owl that flew about 30 yards away and slumped down on a grassy ridge staring at us with its piercing yellow eyes. It looked all in having presumably just crossed the Channel on its northward journey to breed, so I took a few quick pics and left it in the sunshine to recover, hunkered amongst the grass.

    Short-eared Owl, Lade

A stakeout overlooking Cook`s pool on the bird reserve proved profitable as a mixed flock of 30 odd Whimbrels and Bar-tailed Godwits flew in from the south and settled down to feed on the pasture at the far side of the pool. Along the near edge at least six Common Snipes were present, plus another wader that initially proved baffling; until it reappeared about an hour later and confirmed its identity as a partially albino Common Snipe! Also noted a flyover Little Ringed Plover (my first of the year), 10 more Whimbrels and seven Barwits over, two Marsh Harriers, a Great White Egret and all the usual warblers.