Whilst working down in Didcot, Oxfordshire, this week, news came through that a Wood Sandpiper had been found only a few miles down the road. So, I headed over to have a look and was rewarded with cracking views of this superb little wader.
It was great to watch it feeding around a small pond that, thankfully, looks set to be saved, although the future of the surrounding area appears bleak with plans to build houses nearby. It just goes to show that even a small pond, with a bit of shallow water and a muddy scrape, can attract something special. You never know what might turn up, and local patches can produce some fantastic surprises.
Wood Sandpipers are now on the move as autumn migration gets underway. After breeding across northern Europe and into western Siberia, they begin heading south from mid-summer onwards, with many stopping off at wetlands across Britain to rest and feed. August is a brilliant time for finding these elegant waders, and evenings like this are a great reminder that even the smallest wetland can be full of surprises.
The evening was made even better by enjoying some quality time out birding, and watching the sun set over a sunflower field was the perfect way to finish off a memorable evening in Oxfordshire.
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