Carlton Buff- breasted Sandpiper & other goodies

Thursday 6th May was a fine sunny evening, I arrived at Carlton Marshes at 5.30pm and an hour later I managed to hobble up with difficulty to Peto's Marsh and joined Andrew E, Rob H, Gavin, Paul, Sara and Chris D overlooking the marsh, Gavin kindly pointed out the superb Buff- breasted Sandpiper, loosely associating with around 12 Ringed Plovers and initially with a summer pluamged Dunlin. The warm buff colouration was distinctive and it walked arounf the grassy area feeding a little like a Lapwing, it even displayed several times (to a Ringed Plover!) when it raised its wings and cupped them forward. It repeated this action singly about 3X every twenty minutes or so. Also nearby was a lovely partially summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper, showing the ruseet reb-brown scallops on its breast and chest. Also by the water's edge were 2 fine (yellow eye- ringed) Little Ringed Plovers. The Buff- breasted Sandpiper spent a lot of time hunting for food in the grassy area, but would often fly with the Ringed Plovers going from one side of the marsh to the other. The ever observant Andrew E, spotted a Spoonbill flying high north which I would have missed without Andrew E and Chris D's help. Rob had scoped a calling Cuckoo perched in a tree by the river and nice views seen of this grey bird. Rob, Paul & Sara went off for more Cuckoos & Gropper searching I couldn't keep up with my aching foot. Something I regretted as they found a brown hepatic Cuckoo, a form I have never seen. Walking back slowly, a Whimbrel and Greenshank were seen at the back. The "chiff-if-if" calls alerted me to not 1 but 5 Wood Sandpiers along a water margin at the side. Several Avocets seen too. Grasshopper Warbler (heard too) and several Sedge Warblers heard.