Sutton Bingham - Fri 7 Jul

Bit of a mixed bag during a pre-work visit this morning. Starting at the northern causeway a couple of Common Sandpipers were present briefly before they flew down the arm of the reservoir. Round then to the Fishing Lodge where a further five Common Sandpipers were noted as well an another slightly larger wader that was very distant...and asleep! Very interesting! So I popped in to the Fishing Lodge to arrange access on to the private land and whilst doing so the bird flew and despite my best efforts I was unable to relocate it. That's one that got away.
An adult Little Grebe and a single juvenile bird were on the main reservoir. I have no idea whether this proves successful breeding at the reservoir or whether these are birds displaced from elsewhere.

The family party of three Mandarin were still present and a total of at least six Little Egrets were at the reservoir this morning also.
The first returning Sand Martin of the year was present with a handful of Swallows near the Canoe Club.

I then decided to take a quick look down the southern arm in case the mystery wader had gone that way. Whilst searching (in vain) I did have a Curlew fly over calling, it circled the reservoir a couple of times before being lost to view. So despite missing out on one wader, I did add another to the patch year list. Swings and roundabouts.
Sutton Bingham year list 2017 now at 98 species.