30.07.12. Birdlog.
Morning and afternoon watch:
I’m calling this one Buffy the Sandpiper Stayer because it’s the third day and it really needs to settle down to a pattern. So, Buff-breasted Sandpiper present briefly on No 6 tank at 10.45 am last seen at 11.00 am. Other birds of note were 6 Avocet, 1 Turnstone, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint, 80 Dunlin,1 Sanderling.
Observers: Paul Crawley and Mark (Whipper) Gibson.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper from evening watch. Image by WSM.
Early evening to dusk watch:
A glorious sunny evening with birding banter and a fine selection of waders, add a rarity buffet and it sums up what’s best of Frodsham Marsh.
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was present from 19.30 until 19.55 and again from 20.30 until 20.45 hrs. It appears the bird comes on to the northern side of No 6 tank (viewing banks) to join the feeding Dunlin flock at approximately 11.00 am (ish) and shortly after departs. In the evening it arrives at 19 -19.30 hrs to bath and rest before flying out to the estuary.
juvenile Marsh Harrier. Image by David Wilson.
Other birds of interest were juvenile Marsh Harrier, 1 Whimbrel, 45 Curlew, a flock of 9 Snipe, 4 Ringed Plover, 500 Dunlin, 4 adult Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Avocet (including a colour ringed bird), 10 Black-tailed Godwit.
A Weasel was spotted along the track by No 5 tank (R Wilkinson).
Observers: Frank Duff and WSM et al.
