Black Winged Stilt at Stodmarsh

With news breaking yesterday evening of a Black winged Stilt seen from the Marsh Hide at Stodmarsh, I was hoping that it would stay overnight and that I could make an early morning visit to connect with this attractive wader. I have only ever seen one Black winged Stilt in the Stour Valley, that being in May 2015, and that was only a one day bird which showed quite distantly from the water meadows so to get another chance with this species was not to be missed. I was up early this morning and drove over to Grove Ferry where in the growing light, I walked out to the Marsh hide where unbelievably, Steve Ashton was already on site. To see Steve at this early hour is itself, a rare sight! Thankfully, the Stilt was still in residence and even better, on the nearest part of water to the hide which afforded excellent views through the binoculars but slightly harder to achieve any useable photos due to the low light, cloud, murk etc. I spent a few hours in the hide before making a quick trip home before returning a while later where I again spent a few hours in slightly better light where I managed a few photos of this little stunner. Having spent most of its time in front of the hide, it was inevitable that it would move to a further pool which it did but still showed quite well at range. With a few shots taken and lovely views through the day, I decided to leave for home. Other birds seen today included 1 female Ring Ouzel, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 5 Water Pipit, 5 Redshank, 6 Canada Geese, 1 Pintail, 1 Shelduck, c12 Sedge Warbler, 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Sand Martin,  c40 Fieldfare and back at the ramp, 1 Whimbrel called as it flew east mid afternoon.

 

Black winged Stilt