10-09-08 Cresswell "hotspot"

The recent heavy rain had apparently done what the NWT thought would be a waste of time, the force of water was so great for so long that it pushed it's way through the sand bar and greatly reduced the water level of the pond, revealing lots of food rich mud and attracting a large and assorted number of waders, news of a Buff Breasted Sandpiper at the north end just as I was pulling into the farm car park, the bird showed on the east shore and came closer at the north end giving good views ,a great little bird , also present,
8 Curlew Sandpipers
15 Black-Tailed Godwits
5 Bar Tailed Godwits
9 Knot
30+ Golden plover
40 Snipe
30 Dunlin
Lapwings & Curlew, with F Marsh over, and Merlin & Sparrowhawk
Still lot's of migrants around along the coast, Spottted Flycatchers in good numbers as with Willow Warblers, and still Pied Fly & Redstart, also had a Hawker Dragonfly briefly but it did not settle, Barn Owl just as I was heading out of the hide was a bonus

Close up of a Spotted Flycatcher showing the makeup of the eyering and the rictal bristles at the base of the bill
There will be many better photos of this great little bird , mine all seemed to be a bit soft perhaps it's time for an upgrade
It preferred to feed on it's own ,gave great flight views as it wheeled around with the flock

Only Redshank and Black Headed on the Lynemouth flash
View from the hide showing the assorted waders
Black Tails fighting over space
Barn Owl to end the day over the east field