Last year when i saw the first signs of the Avocets looking to make nests my heart soared, Tuesday when i witnessed it my heart sank recalling how the five nests on the sand bar were wiped out last year systematically by a fox. I can only see the same thing happening again.
Before i headed back to the north end to join Rob i noticed the battery was getting low on my camera and thought that i had better put a new one in before i went out to join him. Being the age i am i totally forgot and on checking my settings when i got into position on the causeway was horrified to realise the camera could go dead at any minute. I decided i had better take single images on timer but the LBD, as with other times i had caught up with it, was feeding continuously in that familiar sewing machine action so getting a shot of the bird with it's bill was difficult...and something i didn't manage. Never mind, it was great to see it looking stunning as it further goes into breeding plumage in some decent light for the first time for me. A full battery would have meant i could have taken bursts of shots to capture the brief moments it raised its head. Next time......if it stays.
Last Sunday while visiting the Budge Field i was lucky enough to find a Jack Snipe. It showed really well and was next to a Common Snipe for a short period which gave brilliant size comparison. It put the bird out on Twitter and within fifteen minutes i was joined by five other birders asking where the bird was. I left them to the bird in not the best of moods as not one of them had the courtesy to thank me for putting them onto it. Just me ?? or what.
