Local patch birding just doesn't get better than this !
At 12.30 Graham Daw and myself were walking accross the South Huish Marsh car park looking at the db Brent Goose (first of the Autumn ) when we picked up a large bird at the top of the field - you can imagine the comments when we both called out Great Bustard ! Closer scope views confirmed it had wing tags showing 06- obviously one of the Salisbury Plain birds, will try and obtain more history details and post later. It had to choose the worst mobile reception area in Devon, calls made to as many people as possible--approx 20 saw the bird before it departed at 13.25 in a N/Ne direction.
On a normal day the m Snow Bunting on the rocks by the flats and later heard calling would have been a great record - last one around 8 years ago..
Also around were Merlin, 3 lapwing, 1 Wheatear, with a Great N Diver on the sea .
Arrived back home at 14.30 to a message that Bob B et al had seen a small wader fly over calling, would I check the back of Thurlestone Marsh- finding a Dunlin I continued to scan and found what looked good for a Pectoral Sandpiper- when it called it seemed too good to be true- called the cavelry and soon had AJL, BOB B, Eric W and Chris Bond with Alan D arriving later,. Continued watching the bird until 16.40 when the light started to go. During that time a Jack Snipe & 12 Snipe were flushed , Black T Godwit feeding and the female Marsh Harrier over at 16.20.
What a weekend 3 patch ticks and a lifer
