Went to Frampton Marsh on Saturday as nothing new since The Pavillion at Chatsworth!
Several interesting reports of things like Spotted Crake, Wood and Pectoral Sandpipers and the odd Turtle Dove. 2 hours later and NOTHING. Got close to a sleeping Pectoral but no joy so headed back to the main RSPB shack. 30 yards short I asked my final 'see owt good' to 2 expert types. Yes they said - 20 yards away was the US Vagrant - about 50 reports a year in the UK. Great views and the usual look through someone elses scope and the Pectoral was all mine mine mine. It even did a duo feed with a snipe.
I then asked the warden where the Turtle's were. He gave me the full low down and said within 10 mins walk they were almost guaranteed. 'Almost' was the case. So 1 new addition in about 6 weeks. Summer is rubbish. Roll on the Autumn and then Christmas when Helen has promised to buy me a massive Swarovski scope by selling 'her' car to put up the capital.
This is my new rarity for the year, beating the GWE, Spoonbills and Bearded t*t.
Yours,
Bittern and Untwisted.
SjS
