Well where do I start!This was my biggest bogie bird,I had attempted to see many of this species but due to bad luck they had either flown the next day when I arrived or id missed them by a few hours or minutes. Well this bird broke on the pager on Friday afternoon so I arranged to go with Dianne the next morning.We set off at 6.00am and I managed to call in at Farndon and connect with a female Dotterel that had turned up the night before in a ploughed potatoe field which I needed for my Cheshire yearlist,i then started the long journey south. There was no news on the bird all the way down as I drove which wasent looking good and on arrival at Dawlish warren I saw Joe from Plymouth who gave me the bad news that the bird had gone!I was gutted and couldn`t believe it!Me and Dianne had a good walk round but there was no sign,I felt like shit but Dianne tried to console me by saying it mighnt come back later when the tide comes in!Anyway we headed off for something to eat and a walk round Dawlish to do some shopping.On return late afternoon there was still no sign of the bird and I was so pissed off,so I just layed back on the beach with Dianne and had a cigarette.When I stood back up a Ringed plover had flown in right next to us and then out of nowhere I couldnt believe my eyes the female Kentish plover landed showing well, I felt absolutely ecstatic and just couldn’t believe our luck.The bird showed well for the hour and thankfully a lot of other birders connected with it.What a day from Deflation to total Elation!God I love birding!
PICTURE OF THE KENTISH PLOVER KINDLY EMAILED TO ME BY LEE COLLINS ONE OF THE DAWLISH REGULARS
