Join the Dot.....
I always say this but nature has a funny way of surprising us.
Whether its surviving against all the odds, migrating tens of thousands of miles in a lifetime just to continue the species or adapting to the worst that humans can throw at the world, nature finds a way to amaze and surprise.
One group of birds often produces more surprises than others. Whether its 100,000 wintering Knot on the Norfolk coast or a migrating group of Ruff and Spotted Redshank that give us incredible views when they pass us by during the Autumn, waders always give a fantastic spectacle.
Sometimes though it takes just one wader to completely make not just someones day, but someones birding year.
Take the photo below. This is me a few years ago just a few feet from a feeding Grey Phalarope (Photo copywrite Richard Brookes, used with his kind permission). This was one of those days where a single wader made me feel incredibly privileged and fortunate to be part of the wonderful hobby of birding.
Whether its surviving against all the odds, migrating tens of thousands of miles in a lifetime just to continue the species or adapting to the worst that humans can throw at the world, nature finds a way to amaze and surprise.
One group of birds often produces more surprises than others. Whether its 100,000 wintering Knot on the Norfolk coast or a migrating group of Ruff and Spotted Redshank that give us incredible views when they pass us by during the Autumn, waders always give a fantastic spectacle.
Sometimes though it takes just one wader to completely make not just someones day, but someones birding year.
Take the photo below. This is me a few years ago just a few feet from a feeding Grey Phalarope (Photo copywrite Richard Brookes, used with his kind permission). This was one of those days where a single wader made me feel incredibly privileged and fortunate to be part of the wonderful hobby of birding.
I really didn't think something like this could happen again, boy how wrong I was!
Around lunchtime today news broke of a juvenile Dotterel that had landed on the beach at Cley during a period of rain. Now Dotterel in Norfolk are usually specs in fields in the Titchwell area during days where the heat haze makes you question whether what you are viewing are birds or sugarbeet. However this evening (05/09/17) I was able to fulfil one of my most wanted birding and photography experiences.
After a drive over I arrived at the east bank car park around 5:40pm and made a hasty march along the east bank. 3 Northern Wheatear greeted me at the end, seemingly pointing me in the right direction. After 30 minutes of trudging up and down the beach with zero success in finding the Dotterel I was joined by Emma, a birding friend, and as she had covered the last bit of beach that I hadn't I began to give up hope.
What happened nest was quite extraordinary. While chatting away about the fact that we were unable to find the Dotterel my attention was drawn to a slight movement over Emma's right shoulder.....6 feet behind her was the Dotterel! Sat looking quite confused as to why 2 humans were not giving it their full attention.
A quick change of position to get down to eye level with the bird resulted in spending a simply wonderful 40 minutes or so with this young wader as it rested on the beach and occasionally fed on the flies that make their home between the stones.
We were then thunderstruck as this tiny bird began wandering closer to us. 5 feet, 4 feet, 3 feet! Out came the phones as the cameras were rendered useless and the video below is a wonderful example of just how close the Dotterel came.
With a storm heading our way we decided to leave this little wader to its fate, not knowing whether it would survive the night with the inclement weather on its way. As we walked back along the East Bank the 3 Northern Wheatear were there again.
What an experience they had lead us to, one neither of us will forget.
I'll leave you with a couple of images I have edited thus far. To see more please click the Flickr link below:
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