Carlton Marsh

All was quiet when Keith Bannister visited the wader scrape at 07.30hrs. Thursday is usually the day our wildlife group does various tasks. Today we were strimming the footpath and cutting back overhanging Hawthorn alongside the path towards the wader scrape. When we reached the wader scrape Russ Boland noticed what looked like 2 Avocets feeding amongst the gulls. RJB quickly beckoned Rod Heeley and me for a second opinion, as we had left our binoculars behind whilst we completed the work. They were quite distant, but yes they were confirmed at 11.20hrs. They were happily feeding still at least until 17.10hrs. These were the first since 4 flew north on 18/4/2011! This was a new bird at this site for most of our regular birders.

 The following photographs were taken by Dave Smith

Also of note 45 Herring Gulls, 3 LBB Gulls,  Lesser Whitethroat, Dingy Skipper, Small Copper and Cinnabar Moth.