A Trip to Shustoke.

After some early morning shopping and a couple of household chores the sun came out on Friday morning so I thought I must go out birding but where to go?My first thoughts were a visit to Brandon as I hadn't been for ages but the call of a Great Northern Diver still wearing some summer clothing at Shustoke won the day.

Got there at 10.00AM and joined a few birders in the car park.The juvenile had been showing well but the adult was spending most of the time diving both a long way off though.

I then made a mistake I have made before at Shustoke I thought the birds were closer to the far shore so along with Lee Johnson and John I walked round to the far shore.Of course when you get there both birds were a bit nearer but still a long way off and worst of all the sun was glaring badly off the water and you couldn't see much at all.

Got some so so shots of the juvenile but shots of the adult which was the one I was after were very poor and to make matters worse a Great White Egret was on show at Brandon!!!!!

At last I find a decent bird.

It had to happen sometime and at last it was me who found a decent bird and was able to tell everyone about it.I always go and see a rare bird that someone else has found so I was very chuffed on Friday when it was me who first spotted one.

I got to Draycote Water Friday morning and decided to give the Farborough Bank a miss and to walk to the inlet instead.I had seen very little until I walked along the jetty at the overflow and saw 4 smallish waders on the beach there which turned out to be Dunlin

It wasn't until I'd taken a few shots of the Dunlin that I noticed another wader that was with them.I rattled off a few shots and then tried to work out what it was.I thought Purple Sandpiper but was not certain so I walked round to the inlet where I knew Bob Hazell and Francoise were.Bob was interested enough in my shots to hurry to the jetty where he confirmed my ID.

What surprised me was how rare they are inland and what a good find it was at Draycote and therefore Warwickshire.More important it was me who found it.Fame at last!!!!!

Some pics above but not good ones as the light was very poor.Well that's my excuse.