Ever since the Greater Yellowlegs abandoned us for a stay on the River Ythan, the low ground has been looking a bit strange and empty without it. However, early this afternoon Vicky caught sight of a pale wader with yellow legs wandering down one of the ditches on the low ground. A long search from Tower Pool Hide didn't manage to refind it but when we got back to the centre we had a quick look from the windows and the Yellowlegs was back, showing really well near one of the low ground bridges. Hopefully it's now got the urge to wander out of its system and will hang around for a few weeks more!
The trip to Tower Pool Hide wasn't entirely a waste of time as while we were there a visitor picked out two Common Cranes on the edge of the silt trap. One was a full adult, the other stil had juvenile plumage- greyer and without the red patch on the head. These are most likely the same two that were in a field a few miles south of the reserve over the weekend and possibly the two that have visited the reserve a couple of times during the spring. They never seem to stay long on the reserve, dropping in to drink and feed and then leaving soon after, but we're hoping they too will continue to be regular visitors for a while longer.