Yeah, a Friday a while ago, I finally gave in and went up to Bowling Green to see about that Dowitcher.
I'd seen the previous one there way back when, so way back that the last Dowitcher I've actually seen was a Short-billed [you may recall some awful phonescoped shots on this here blog if you're old enough..] over at Lodmoor. [Fun twitch that, lined up on the path and all.. Ah dear, how it takes you back [[nearly falling over when I found out how much the car park was - oh sweet innocent..!]] ]
Anyways, the forecast threatened rain maybe and certainly delivered wind, so I had some hopes the bird would decide to stay on Bowling Green and not go out on to those nasty exposed mud flats.
As it happened, it did both; appearing from its hiding spot in flight with a group of Blackwits, then magically re-appearing a short while later. It proceeded to show very very well, then hide again, then show, then hide, rinse and repeat at closer and closer distances until it was right by the frickin' Lane..!!
Garganey were their usual evil selves [there were 2, looked like 1cy], hiding at the back in the left channel and only showing for seconds at a time. No sign of Curlew Sand, but the Ruff, after also hiding, came over and showed quite nicely on the round island.
Inevitable pictures;
Long-billed Dowitcher
My what a long schnoot you have
But a petite bird
Blackwit comparison
Very well marked face, there. In active moult from juvenile to 1w;
Mixed feathers
Also in the frame [groan];
Juvenile Ruff [male]
1w Shelduck
Busy moulting
"I only paused on the yellow lines for a moment.."
Plenty of water and waders
A Sprawk flashed through very low very fast, and a couple of Buzzards were overhead, but no sign of the Marshie while I was there.
Be Seeing You...
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