The white-rumped sandpiper that arrived on 29th May was reported yesterday and is, we believe, still with us. Look for it on the wet grassland between the lower car park and East Hide among the numerous dunlins and ringed plovers. This area is also still producing regular sightings of curlew sandpipers (including some fine brick-red, summer-plumaged individuals), little, and more elusive Temminck’s stints. Little ringed plovers and a turnstone have been frequenting this part of the reserve too. We’re also hoping that the pair of black-winged stilts that were here between the 26th and 28th May will return, together with the spoonbill. Splendid drake garganeys often show well here and an alternative site to look for them is around the pools on the wet grassland to the south of the hedgerow near the visitor centre. A quail was heard from here from 22nd.
Turtle doves are being seen daily; hot-spots being the hedgerows near the reservoir and along the Cross Bank. Also listen for the jingling song of corn buntings here (or alternatively from the Reedbed Trail).
In terms of raptor action, red kites occasionally drift over and hobbies are being seen fairly regularly along with marsh harriers.
With a bit of searching, our Mediterranean gulls can be located in the black-headed gull colony with little gulls occasionally passing through.
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Curlew sandpipers by Neil Smith