Marsh Lane, Carlton Marshes

Driving to work this morning, by Rackham's Corner, a Mistle Thush flew over the road and into trees just north of Barn Owl lodge. Driving down Marsh Lane, this evening at around 6pm, I couldn't find the flooded area and I rang Rob Wil he soon told me where to go! Following the road past the golf club car park and parking by the railway line, I walked over the railway line past some bricks on the path and by some tin huts, 200 yards further along I turned left and followed the path as it snaked right past some large fields/ marshes until around 800 yards past the railway line, there was a flooded field on the right. With a Buzzard seen flying off! By the large puddle on the east side of the field was an excellent lone Little Ringed Plover my first Lizard land one for several years. A Buzzard suddenly flew in and settled in a tree along the western edge! Its more elongated shape and prominent yellow eye- ring very apparent. At the back of the pool, 24 wagtails seen, including an incredible 6 White Wagtails (4 being adult males) and 18 Pied Wagtails. Also at the back was a striking summer plumaged Water Pipit, with grey head white supercilia and pinkish tinge on the breast feeding at the back, nice to see this species in this plumage as it's been a while since my last and particularly as I have missed the one at the Carlton Marshes north scrape. Walking back, an adult female Stonechat flew onto a gate just 12 feet away and would have posed very nicely for the camera if I had one! She later flew into a tree showing well yet again! This was a super new location and nice to see so many good birds in a relatively confined spot despite the now regular raw north- east wind. Returning home at around 7.30pm, 3 doors down from us, I spied a family of Wood Pigeons feeding at the front on the grass, including 3 well grown juveniles alongside 2 adults. The broody female Blackbird in the back garden was busy collecting an inordinate amount of nest lining in her bill and she flew to a large evergreen bush on the west side of the garden. I fear however for her ultimate success in raising a brood of youngsters here because next door have 2 very active cats.