Curlew Sandpiper at Carlton Marshes

On Sunday 22nd July, a tweet from Andrew E had me driving down to Carlton Marshes and walking up to the scrape, Andrew, James B, Chris M were in attendance and a fine adult Curlew Sandpiper (just starting to moult out of full summer plumage) was reasonably close feeding away but often obscured. A Moorhen chased it off. A ruff was seen further away and later on a further 2 were seen. A cow wandering over caused the bird to fly together with a Dunlin and Redshank. They flew round in a circle and settled again on the scrape. However an unseen Sparrowhawk later flushed them off completely. At the back a Green Sandpiper sat down and then stood up. Lovely to see 2 adult and 2 almost full grown immature Avocets too. On th walk back with Rob W we saw a Stoat on the path just ahead of us and a Muntjac Deer crossed the path further along too.