Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Weekend Wader Round-up

The TM notched up his 250 this summer, but he’s not one to rest on his laurels! And so it was, with a bunch of Nearctic waders settling in Glamorgan of all places, the Boxers headed west on Saturday for a mixed collection of ticks - Life, Wales and Glamorgan.

Naturally, it p*&%ed down for most of the morning, but nevertheless with some effort and perseverance we managed to connect with the Buff-breasted Sandpiper and one of the Pectoral Sandpipers. A Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper were added to the morning’s crop of wader treats.

Alas, despite a couple of possible glimpses we weren’t able to clinch the White-rumped Sandpiper. Will this be the TMs bogey bird for years to come? He’s missed two in Glamorgan now.

With Saturday’s news that the Gwent American Golden Plover had stayed for a second day, Sunday jobs were completed in record time, and a last minute trip for high-tide was possible. The TM and his Dad took little persuasion that West Usk Beach was a better place to be than the Scrub! We arrived at the Lighthouse Pub and set off east to see a trickle of satisfied birders returning. It was showing well, but had retreated a little as the tide encroached.

We arrived to find our CR in situ, who obliged with great scope views of the moulting adult. Tunnocks all round! The leggy plover remained until we left, and we ticked Curlew Sandpiper and Sanderling amongst the Dunlin and Ringed Plover flock.

A satisfying weekend, and the TM marches onwards to 300!

(Images of varying quality may be inserted by Randy Grouse and JJ Imaging).

2 comments:

Dan said...

I've just got a bit of photoshopping to do to my images before I upload them to the blog. Got to keep my standards up!

DRWG said...

Nice to bump into you all, and especially nice to meet the TM in person. Well done on his 250+.
Look forward to the BTO records, and keep up the good work. Regards.