Spotted Sandpiper at Grafham Water

I dropped the kids at school again yesterday and then popped over to Rainham for an hour to check if the Blue-winged Teal was still there so I could let Dad and Jim know. It was and I did but they had other things on so couldn't make the trip.

I had a planned visit to my brother in laws in Tiptree but Suzanne wasn't feeling well enough so that was postponed last minute. With the evening now free I decided to run up the M11 to see if I could see the Spotted Sandpiper at Grafham Water. The Jims again had other commitments so this was a solo run. 

I arrived to find the bird had been showing well but had recently flown out of view into the tree cover. As I scanned a small gap in the trees I found the bird deep under cover feeding on a small mud patch and I managed to get the other birders onto it although views were only as it wondered in and out of view. For two hours it remained deep in the cover area but I had entertainment in the form of a pair of Yellow Wagtails bathing, a Whinchat and Wheatear near the sola panels, 3 Little ringed Plovers and singing Willow and Garden Warbler.

The trees the bird decided to hide in for two hours

At about 6pm the bird flew out and landed in front of me allowing me to get some images which is why I'd waited so long. It was a smart bird and the first spotted Spotted Sandpiper I've ever seen with the last being a juvenile bird. The car park now had to be paid and I managed to get in just before it clicked into it's fourth hour so at £2 an hour the bird cost me £6.

year list now 198