A trip out with birding mates today as the usual suspects met up at Darts Farm and headed out to our first stop of the day, Bowling Green Marsh RSPB where we struck it lucky as the tide was in so there was a mass of waders present. Among the numerous Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Redshank there were a few different waders.
A Ruff showed pretty well feeding in the grass at the water's edge.
A lone Whimbrel was located amongst the gathered waders.
A few Bar-tailed Godwits were amongst their black-tailed cousins.
About a dozen or so Knot were present, though could blend in with the crowd, this one associating with Redshank and Dunlin.
A single Curlew Sandpiper took some finding, but I managed it!
Other than the waders there was very little around, a Kingfisher flew past and a Pintail was on the pool at the back of the reserve and a Spoonbill flew in, circled the area and headed off north.
After a good peroid of time we decided to head back to the cars and drove on to our second location of the day, Aylesbeare Common RSPB. By the time we arrived it was very hot and there were very few birds around, just a few Stonechats and we did eventually locate three Dartford Warblers. There were lots of butterflies though with the pick being Grayling, Small Heath and a Clouded Yellow.
We then decided to head back towards home and stopped at the Seaton Wetlands reserve, in particular Black Hole Marsh, for a look around. We added Ringed Plover and Greenshank to the day's wader tally but not much else, though a Knot was seen on the Axe estuary.
With the heat and a fair amount of walking now taking it's toll we called it a day and set off for home. Some great birds and some even better company.
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