Black-Winged Pratincole - 13.5.09

Another half day off of work and I was off down to Kent again this time to Grove Ferry.

I arrived in the pouring rain and then trudged off towards the reserve. Thankfully within minutes the rain had stopped and birds began singing again including both Reed and Cetti's Warblers. The Cetti's being species number 160 for the year.

I was within 30 feet of the Marsh hide when 6 people walked out and told me it had just flown off! So rather than walk all the way back to the car and drive around trying to find it I decided to sit it out. A brief flyover was the only glimpse in over an hours waiting and not long after another birder in the hide received a call saying the bird in question was at nearby Collards Lake. So along with Dan Pointon we started walking back to the car park popping briefly to Harrison's Drove hide to see both Little and Temminck's Stint and a Greenshank. But just as we had left Dan got a call to say it was infront of the Marsh hide again! So a brisk walk back enabled us to finally see a wet and sad looking BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE my 4th lifer in as many weeks!

Later that evening once home news broke of a male Grey-Headed Wagtail infront of Harrison's Drove hide! Not seen one of those - yet!