Little Stint: KGV Reservoir, Chingford

A Little Stint had been reported this morning at the KGV Reservoir in Chingford. Although only a few miles from home, I was unable to make the trip until this afternoon.

The Stint had been reported on the South basin along the edge of the causeway towards the Western edge. Upon arrival, we headed up the ramp and walked the reverse of our normal route scanning as we went. Along the Southern edge, we found 2 Common Sandpiper but little else. At the causeway, I scanned the edges several times but failed to find the Little Stint. Common Sandpipers were dotted all the way along this edge. Amongst the Common Sandpipers, I could hear a Green Sandpiper calling, but couldn't find it among the Common.

We decided to head back round to the sailing club hut and scan for the Stint from there. Several more Common Sandpipers were found along the edges and on the tyres of the platforms. 

Having almost given up on finding the Stint we began the walk back towards the ramp and watched three birds drop in, in front of us. And we're surprised to find the Little Stint feeding with two Common Sandpipers!

A trip just a few miles from home had produced the target bird and also 15-20 Common Sandpipers. I couldn't find the Black Tern that had also been reported but did finally manage to find the Green Sandpiper that I heard calling earlier.

Red-necked Phalarope, Oare Marshes

It's been a while but we finally managed some birding today. An early morning trip to Oare Marshes was our destination hoping the previous days reported Red-necked Phalarope had stayed overnight.

The journey was hassle free until we turned off the M2 at junction 6 to find the road completely closed! 

Luckily it wasn't a long detour and we were soon parked up along the entrance track at Oare. As soon as I stepped out of the car the Phalarope was seen, swimming and feeding right in front of the viewpoint. 

Red-necked Phalarope

A scan of East Flood also produced 10 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Yellow Wagtail,

and at least 15 Little Egrets. 3 Little Stints had been reported the previous day, but scanning the flood several times we failed to locate any.

We left Oare and headed for Pegwell Bay, and found the small body of water behind the Jet garage easily enough. Unfortunately, the Pec Sandpiper was nowhere to be seen.

A  final stop off at Rainham Marshes also proved disappointing as we searched for and dipped the Marsh Sandpiper in the increasingly heavy rain.

The Marsh Sandpiper would be reported later in the day from Cliffe Pools!

So a mixed day, but it was just good to be out birding again.