For the second time in three days I returned to Martinmere for a second look at the Black winged stilts in the hope that they might be nearer in and so get some better views and photographs of them. In sharp contrast to Sundays dull and dreary weather today was bright, sunny and very warm. Alas though not all warm bright weather means good light and today there was a haze caused by the heat. Sadly though haze or not it wasnt to make any difference to the stilts as they were not to come any closer than the weekend. A Pectoral sandpiper was also showing on the far bank. I have never seen one of these before but even views through a telescope didnt show enough sufficient detail to allow me to say I had seen anything different. People say that because I have physically seen it I can tick it but to my mind it only get s a real tick if I can make out enough to prove to myself that it is indeed what they say it is.

Watching dots on the horizon are not exactly my idea of bird watching. Some birds werent so far away and two birds that i did find interesting were a pair of Shoveler. They were competing with a pair of Shelduck (of which there were many) for territory on the front edge of the lagoon. Plenty of chasing and grunting took place before the Shoveler finally won their right to their little cornor. Other birds on the lagoon included many lapwings, redshank ruff, the males looking very good in their breeding plumage and a pair of ringed plovers with two very young chicks.

Over the other side of Martinmere at the United utilities hide there were a pair of male Garganey. Seeing these in the wild is another first for me and although they were again too far away for a decent photograph they were wonderful to watch. A corn bunting was also clearly visible on the fence. Another first for me at Martinmere.

Went into the park for a little while though didnt have that much time. By now it was really quite hot indeed. All the ducks including this young duckling were sitting in the shade.