Watching out for Waders - Trip 4 (The final trip)

13/7/06 Snettisham RSPB Leaders;Simeon, James, Connor
As it was our last trip, we decided to go to Snettisham to try and find our own decent wader. As we got out of the car we were dreaming of Sandplovers and rare Sandpipers! On arriving at the first hide, we started scanning the mudflats, and despite the heat haze Connor managed to pick out a single plover. We were swaying to Pacific Golden and then realised the black on the breast stopped abruptly at the legs - it was a Golden. On Pacific Golden Plovers, the black extends beyond the legs and gradually fades out. Despite being downhearted we managed to pick up a few highlights, but no rarities. 7 Little Egrets, Scaup, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and several Black - Tailed Godwits were present on the pits and the mudflats. By the end I had counted 2 Sandwich Terns and 79 Common Terns nesting on the islands which could be viewed from the first and second hides. It had been a great trip including several yearers for me and many enjoyable birds.A fabulous start to the holidays!