Afternoon at the Marsh

Arriving home at about 2pm, on Sunday 28th, Jenny first of all spotted the excellent Brown Hawker flying around the middle of the garden. Driving over to Carlton Marshes, looking from Wilton's mount, I saw a Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshanks feeding in the grass, nearby a Wood Sandpiper was also in the grass. Walking up the path and across I finally found the path to the otherside of the marsh and it was much closer. A Little Egret, one of 7, fed on the water close to the path. By a grassy island the nominate limosa race of Black- tailed Godwit fed amongst the long grass of the island, later it fell asleep on the left hand side of the island. Whilst at the back, a winter- plumaged Spotted Redshank fed in the pool at the back. I left and returned with the camera, the nominate race limosa Black- tailed Godwit was by the island again, this time it was asleep on the left side of the island by the mud, later it woke up and fed on the island for some considerable time before it walked over to the mud just left of the island and tucked its bill underneath its feathers. The Little Egret was walking on the grass very close to the path a further 6 were seen also, whilst on islands at the back slept 2 eclipse Pintail ducks. 2 Greenshank and 1 Spotted Redshank were seen too. Walking back to Wilton's mount, the 2 Robs were there with Andrew and we saw 3 Wood Sandpipers 2 in the far grass and 1 much closer by the edge of some water. Walking back, the excellent Little Owl perched on the left side of the chimney pot of the delipidated building it stayed until I set my camera up and it flew west.