Proper Tarting

In which I again launch a smash and grab raid on the Backwater!*



On site for a mere hour due to family commitments - you may possibly rightly question the rationality of going right over there for such a quickie, oh yes - and fortunately the Black Hole was its usual reliable self. I was in search of Curlew Sands and Little Stints and I found two of each. Also a nicely educational bird, so there was some proper birding in there, too. [Oh dear]


Where to begin? Awful pictures?

The Black Hole

Curlew Sandpiper

Nice and close...

Comparison with two variations of Dunlin

Little Stint, with one of 'those' Dunlin

Spot the Little Stint

Told you there were two Little Stints

[also Dunlin, Ringo, Blackwit]

Name that wader!

Nicely educational bird, here. Vaguely looks like nothing you know, doesn't it? [Or something you dream of knowing... ;) ] Grey-green legs and bill..?!? [It's in water, that leg colour's not mud]

Before anyone gets going [either way], this is a very fresh very young juvenile Redshank. [Look again; imagine some orange instead of grey-green and you'll go ohhhhhhhh...]. Normally the legs and bill get colour before they migrate, which does make one wonder exactly how far this bird has - or hasn't - come?

It made life interesting for a while and certainly posed quite nicely. :)


A few numbers; Curlew Sandpiper 2, Little Stint 2, Common Sandpiper 2, Oystercatcher 2, Ringed Plover 14+, Dunlin 47+, Kingfisher 1


I will, I say again, get there properly and for longer. It's going to happen.


Anyways, lovely to be there even fleetingly.



Be Seeing You...



[[*One day I will make a proper visit, honest.]]