A small wader was present in the same place as yesterday’s Baird’s Sandpiper in the half-light before dawn but it’s identity could not be confirmed.  It then disappeared but I have just heard (10.30) from Dick Best that it is back feeding in the same part of the Fenning with a Little Stint.

Other birds this morning included a ringtail Hen Harrier over the river.

Mat Slaymaker found a juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper on The Fenning, viewed from the Tower Hide, at c. 12.00 today 16th Oct.

It then disappeared for a couple of hours but reappeared in the same spot and showed intermittently but often well from thereon.  Occasionally disturbed by a variety of raptors, it seems that it does not flee the site entirely (as do the dunlin that it is sometimes with) but retreats out-of-sight into deeper channels, reappearing some time later.  Two Little Stints have also been around but the Baird’s appears to prefer its own company except when there are lots of dunlin.

The news appears to be out on Whats App and Twitter but has not yet been posted here - so just in case you’ve missed it, now you know.

Phil