sunday last day of a great weekends birding

 as usual got to swilly early, i wanted to get some photos of the old lock 

i suspect might be more to see in winter 

headed down the causeway the light was lovely 

but not brilliant for getting photos of a hobby that appeared and dissapeared quickly, put out the news to the local birders whatsapp dont think it was seen again 

heading down the track between the 2 reedbeds the red necked stint was still at idle washlands, so i headed down my only concern every petrol station over the weekend were empty! with a quater of a tank left i could do it but would it get back?? 

down the A1 managed to get diesel not cheap but better than nowt 

after a 50 minute drive id arrived at idle washlands, parked on hagg lane by the flash, before even getting out of the van i could see 4 great egrets and at least 12 little egrets, managed the 15 minute walk and joined the rest of them, the light was awfull and the stint was distant far to away for any photos  but managed to get one 

its crap but enough to identify it as a little stint which is now the verdict but given the distance and views i can understand the caution yesterday, big call to make so respect 

back at the van the flash now had 1 cattle egret 16 little egrets and 4 great egrets, the cattle egret was too  distant in the sun to any photos 

nice place one for the future 

so with in 60 miles of my flat ive seen the following this weekend 

spoonbill 1

great egret 4

cattle egret 1

little egret 21

hobby 1

marsh harrier 3

buzzard 6

sparrowhawk 1

cetti's warbler 18

ruff 12

black tailed godwit 28

white tailed plover 1

little stint 2

bearded tit 32

whooper  swan 11

pink footed goose 500+