⛅️23C Monday 13th August 2018 ~ I'd originally planned to visit Brandon Marsh today but after breakfast decided I'd try my hand a little further afield, heading off to RSPB Middleton Lakes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7jHbbuQYpgOLqAq3le3HRSPtMA8Orb5BZ3MEli5dsu7VOTVpFyU9TssIDZC_FPHGWrz1EszGYu2wlDxlf6EL2uQTEGXljuInFmOOa7saI8Her0QJrDbjbh_NOerxr34CYPtI1-vfkec/s400/IMG_0079-1.jpg) |
Dunlin ~ West Scrape ~ Canon SX50 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWmgB2o2ZL7Y4N08xmU-k0NjIoM4s2_H1yUzXHpUx-d8GnUtP1EUQEW0CI3hr9_ul7aLdXzHOL0C7gzrEXJk8wAQcMOUxBrxk1B4S6LxUwubjjgkZXT8imkKwhyH9wya_rseHoTWDm2A/s400/IMG_0070-1.jpg) |
Ringed Plover ~ West Scrape ~ Canon SX50 |
I was sitting at the West Scrape screen just after 10am where a good selection of waders were on offer: (2)
Common Sandpiper, (2)
Dunlin, (5)
Black-tailed Godwit, (4)
Avocet, (2)
Ringed Plover and
Little-ringed Plover.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxPUAokGx_HSVhVmXWFp_0iki2tS1veXb9qtTAM9XazYOQKtZ120whmN-8FkDVZTkfZhJQol_RX_ipC1OAjIyr5ZEf2G9grtbGKeQn81WeXSctZFLS0r64Ks45aB66ev35jtlNFerMyc/s400/IMG_0083-1.jpg) |
Three of four Avocets today ~ Canon SX50 |
While here I couldn't believe my luck when the phone pinged:
Spotted Crake, East Scrape, RSPB Middleton Lakes! I was off in flash arriving a few minutes later and immediately bumping into Dave Hutton who'd dropped onto the bird a short time earlier.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRg1_jgAuOuyjWd8IFkk2C0PbueH7JZ-yeP5YgGA56b3oqxqBXcb3q1a09kloW4i_T0DUW8oRCwZPxOcVtjMVaeSpaMIynQ9P-lGoUFtuK-vyn6lEZAugET71CW07WzOlUQrPbExBWMxA/s400/IMG_0069-1.jpg) |
Wood Sandpiper ~ East Scrape ~ Canon SX50 |
I spent a while at the screen chatting and scanning without success, although a couple of
Wood Sandpipers and a
Hobby were an excellent distraction. Unlike me (Mr Impatience) I did spend a few hours here at various vantage points, my only reward a fleeting glance of something darting in and out of reeds, which the RSPB guys told me was the Crake. For me, it could have been anything so sadly no year-tick!
The remainder of the time was spent around the western and northern end of the reserve where I did pick out a distant
Whinchat perched up, a year-tick for my efforts ✅