A case of déjà vu!

August 4th - Buffy flies in to Blacktoft

Always distant, I did my best to get some decent images.

August 8th - Back to Blacktoft

I suppose I wanted a better photo of the buff-breasted sandpiper. Did I succeed? Not too sure - but I had a pleasant afternoon. Green sandpipers and yellow wagtails too. You'll know which are which...

The buff-breasted had flown off apparently - which explained why there was plenty of room in Marshland hide. And, it came back!

Eventually something unseen spooked everything and Marshland was quiet. I headed for Townend as I knew it liked to go there too...

The bird decided to come our way and set off on a long walk...

...and then the long walk back...

August 9th - Back to Kilnsea

No sign off the red-backed shrike, just the smell, reminiscent of a roadside snack bar, of food cooking in the new cafe they've built. Seems a strange place for a cafe and it's got a strange name too: The Discovery Centre. It was full of people believing they were doing their bit for nature watching the starlings on the feeder.

Under the Orwellian rules which currently apply I may well be banned frrom YWT land for expressing such opinions. All I will say is that the current situation is very sad and needs to be resolved. YWT must realise that some people are saying sensible things...

Birds. I went back to Kilnsea Wetlands. A wall brown posed on the bank as I approached - strong male sex brand. An immature med gull was on the second spit. Dunlins busy feeding.

Eventually went back to the canal zone. David and Chris told me to talk to a Scotsman who was 'on' the shrike. This worked out well although [and I know my hearing is rubbish] I could only understand bits of what he was telling me! Here's the target bird.

The bird dropped out of view so I went to Canal Scrape hide. Swallow still feeding young. Shrike duly appeared.

Snipe in front of hide. Action in the reeds just to my left. Sedge and reed warblers both looking fresh. 224 UK 2018