Monty's and a Pec.

A wander around the point and desert and moat this morning found just 8 Wheatears, 4 Common Whitethroats and a few Swallows over. Wondering where to go next a text from CT telling me the Montagu's Harrier was still at The Midrips solved my dilemma, especially as there is no more access until Friday 21/09/12. A few minutes later I was parking at Jurys Gap and plodding the c1000mts out to the third pool, where the Harrier was showing non stop for the couple of hours I was there catching Dragonflies and possibly Grasshoppers. At one point it was being harassed by 2 Hobby's ,but never came close for the camera and with the heat haze any image was difficult. Also seen a Merlin which flew through 20+ Yellow Wagtails, a few Wheatears and some Swallows and Sand Martins moved through. There was a distinct lack of waders despite the pools looking brilliant, just 3 Curlews, 2 Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin were seen (TG) and c200 Sandwich Terns roosting on the beach.

 





Hazy Monty's

 As we got back to the cars a text from SB alerted us that the Pectoral Sandpiper was back in front of Firth hide. A few minutes later we were watching it until a Little Egret flushed it and flew out of sight behind vegetation. From Hanson 200+ each of Golden Plover and Lapwing, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Stint, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 5+ Dunlin, 3 flyover Whimbrel and a Black-necked Grebe.

Pectoral Sandpiper