Buff-breasted Sandpiper & Merlin added to year list.

Monday 3rd October 2022,

There is a lot of area to cover to find something special here at Medmerry RSPB Reserve, but it is starting to get a good reputation with some exciting birds of late. Andy is searching for something interesting in the neighbouring fields. 

After yesterday's exciting news of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Medmerry late afternoon, I could not resist a drive down with my old chum, Andy Fisher, to try our luck in viewing the bird. It was going to be a long shot as there were no sightings coming up on Birdguides if the bird was present, but seeing it was going to be a pleasant day, there was always the long staying Red-backed Shrike to look at.

A large mix of Gulls making the most of the ploughed ground out in the fields. A few Med Gulls were present within the Gulls. But could there have been something more unusual?

Andy kindly put his moth box on overnight, but by the time I got there in the morning, there were very few moths on show with just 3 Lunar Underwing and singles of Eudonia angustea and Endotricha flammealis, which was a late individual. There was one moth outside the conservatory on the window, but when I went to view the moth, it bloody well flew off and looked interesting too! 

The Endotricha flammelis micro moth in Andy's conservatory this morning.

Grabbing Andy, we then set off for the car park at Medmerry RSPB Reserve. Arriving around 10.30am, there were a few people up and down the road looking for the Shrike. I really didn't want to hang around to search for the bird and so we both made our way to the Stilt Pools. The long trek produced the usual birds, with a few Swallows overhead, but the fields were alive with flocks of Skylarks, Linnets and Meadow Pipits. A few Chiffchaffs were seen along the way, flitting about the vegetation and the occasional Cetti’s Warbler sang unseen adjacent to the footpath. Both Migrant Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies were abundant along the track; keeping a careful eye out for anything rarer, especially after the Vagrant Emperor sightings yesterday at Farlington Marshes!

A large flock of Linnets flying over the fields adjacent to the main footpath.

As we neared the Stilt Pools, we came across a couple of birders from Oxford, also looking for the Sandpiper and a good look on the Pools drew a blank for the bird. There were plenty of Lapwing, a few Snipe and a single Greenshank that represented the waders, but not our main quarry. There were up to four Cattle Egrets, with a few Little Egrets, standing sentry like at the southern end of the Pools and a good number of Teal, Mallard and Wigeon on the Pools along with a single Egyptian Goose. A large group of Starling were on the islands, with me always on the look out for a Rosy Starling among them (you never know!).

One of the Linnets settled on a small tree by the same field.

We soon joined the small group of birders on the embankment behind us overlooking the salt-marsh behind and the Stilt Pools in front of us. Speaking to a fellow birder, he told me that the Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen first on the Stilt Pools yesterday and then out on the salt-marsh and always at a great distance. Despite a good scan over the area, all we could pick up was the occasional Redshank and a few distant Curlew. I did see a small 'plover like' bird fly out towards the beach, but impossible to get an accurate ID on the view I had. There were flocks and flocks of Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits out on the salt-marsh, which in turn provided a huge food source for the raptors present here today.

A Yellowhammer on the small Oak Tree by the main footpath. Several were seen today.

This afternoon, we were blessed with 5 species of raptor on show and best of all were the pair of Merlin present here and showing very well at times, albeit distantly. I caught sight of one flying east over the salt-marsh and quickly got Andy onto the bird; for it was our first sighting of one this year. It didn't take long to pick out a pair of Merlins perched on posts and clearly seen and identified through my scope. There were a few birders a lot older than us querying the identity of the Merlins, but I soon put them straight. A female Sparrowhawk came into view and also perched a lot closer on one of the posts, enjoying no doubt the bountiful supply of passerines on show. Kestrels were literally everywhere with at least four, possibly five birds seen at any one time. Common Buzzards were sailing high in the sky overhead and patrolling female Marsh Harriers were quartering the fields and marshes. Quite a raptor fest during the two hours we were there.

The lone Greenshank on the Stilt Pools.

Eventually, the shout went up that a small wader fitting the exact description of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper was visible, albeit very distant. The strong sunshine made viewing difficult as the bird was very distant; but through the scope, I could clearly pick out the size, shape, colouration and to me, most important of all, the small bill. Even its gait was noticeable and I quickly confirmed it as THE Buff-breasted Sandpiper. I have seen a few of this species before, though not for many a year I might add, but I was in no doubt whatsoever with the views I had of the bird and most of the birders present agreed, although a couple of old timers didn't really get a good view of the bird. Very happy with another two ‘year-ticks’ under our belts, we said our goodbyes to the remaining birders and made our way back to the car.

Cattle Egret on the southern end of the pools with a Snipe and Moorhen in the foreground.

A female Stonechat was seen on the Gorse Bushes, but there was no sign of any Dartford Warblers today. A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen again on the main footpath, but before I could get a photo, an irresponsible dog owner let their dogs flush the butterfly, much to my anger. Surely, the RSPB must make sure all dogs are on leads on their reserves? The dog crap left behind is bad enough but to let them run freely is taking the absolute piss! We pay enough in subscriptions each year to keep these reserves in top condition!

A Common Snipe with a preening Cattle Egret behind it.

A few more Kestrels and Buzzards were seen on the way back, plus Yellowhammers and a large flock of Greenfinch by the main path. A few Reed Buntings were noted near the footpath and the large flock of Linnets were again seen over the fields. There was plenty to look at today and with two great birds on the reserve, I have always said to Andy the amazing potential this reserve has for rarities and scarce birds. We did not try for the Shrike once back in the car park as no-one seemed to be on the bird that were present there and so made our way back home with our first rarity of the Autumn under our belts.

You can just make out the Buff-breasted Sandpiper (or small wader shaped thing!) in the centre of the photograph! Yes, it was that far away.

I have just found out that the possible Spotted Sandpiper on the Deeps at Farlington Marshes yesterday, which was also seen today, has been confirmed by photos taken. Sadly, the bird is very difficult to see and tends to feed at the far pools behind the main Deeps and only occasionally flew to the main pools and stayed for a minute or two before flying back again. Still, I am sure it will draw a crowd over the next few days.