27/8/2015: Wood Sandpipers everywhere!

27/8/2015

The last few days has seen an increasing number of Wood Sandpipers throughout the country and Burwell Fen has been no exception. The most I've ever seen at any one time on the fen was three last year so when news of over a dozen being seen a trip was in order! Max and I set off a little later than planned and rather than move along the bank I decided that we would cross the fen towards the old barns.

As we approached over the bridge a large number of Sand Martin were very apparent. Mixed in were a few House Martin but it was the Sand Martins that passed low and close by giving excellent views. As we moved along the causeway a couple of Snipe rose from the muddy edges and disappeared towards the Pout Hall end. Initially it wasn't looking too good but then within the long grass on the margins I located not one but four Wood Sandpiper. As I slowly moved up towards them they were joined by two more dropping in from the old barn end.

Settling in for a good look, Max resigned himself that today was going to be a very long but short walk! Mixed in with Wood Sandpiper were a couple of Green Sandpiper and skulking further back a Common Sandpiper. Shortly the Wood Sandpipers moved further back and in doing so were joined by yet two more that passed over our heads as we watched, coming from the flooded area near the cycle path. As I scanned the muddy margins a Spotted Redshank appeared crossing from one muddy patch to other. It then proceeded to forage for the rest of the time I was there, passing in and out of the grassy margins.

I could hear Wood Sandpiper calling further up the Fen and talking to DP he commented on the number that were around and he estimated that he had seen at least twenty on his walk along the bank, how many of these were repeats is anyone's guess but there was certainly a lot around.

Also seen were two Greenshank, a single Ruff , Redshank and Golden Plover,  five Dunlin, and nine Ring Plover, DP having seen 24 at the same spot earlier.