Stonechat: I was sitting at home yesterday evening with the baby while she watcthed YouTube on the couch when our WhatsApp pinged. Iggo found a pec sand at Carr Lane pools and sent a brilliant short video of not feeding off Town Lane.
Pec sands are scarce passage migrants from America and Siberia, a few are seen in spring, but the vast majority appear in late summer and autumn so this was a cracking find for Iggo one of the first local birds for spring.
I arrived and the bird wasn't playing, it remained pretty distant, too distant for may camera but showing well in the open. I waited a few hours hoping it would come closer, but no such luck toady.
Pectoral Sandpiper: These are one of my favourite waders that come to our shores, pec sands are relatives of he sharp-tailed sandpiper, with a grey-brown back, brownest in the summer male, and greyest in winter and yellowish legs. They have a grey breast, sharply demarcated at its lower edge, which gives this species its English name 'pectoral sandpiper'.
Its been a while since I've visited Carr Lane and today was lovely with several flocks of wisest whiszzing swiftly overhead and a lovely looking male stonechat which gave some good views.
Great local bird and a another quality find by Iggo, nice one mate.
