Sandpiper surprise

It was almost 09.00 hrs when I lifted myself from the comfort of the duvet. Sleep patterns finally appear to be returning to something approaching normal? Not that laying in until 09.00 hrs is normal, but I'll certainly take it when the opportunity arises. No surprises, therefore, that Bruno and I didn't get down to Minster Marshes for our morning walk until well after 10.00 hrs. It was a pleasant enough morning, although there was a stiff southerly breeze to accompany the sunshine. We took our regular route across the marsh and it was as we approached the first Barn Owl nest box when I flushed a Green Sandpiper from drain beside the track. It flew away, dropping down a few hundred yards further along the dyke, yet as Bruno and I were crossing the concrete bridge it flew back past us and dropped in almost exactly where I'd originally spooked it from. With a bit of fieldcraft, plus the benefit of extensive bankside vegetation, I managed to get into a position where I could grab a few images of the bird as it wandered around on the thick carpet of blanket weed which covers the surface of the drain.

Bruno and I then continued on our merry way, yet seeing very little for our troubles. It was only as we made our way back towards the van that the Green Sandpiper provided another opportunity to grab some more images. This time, however, the bankside vegetation was on my side and I was able to get much closer to the bird, with the sun in my favour as well. 

Still loads going on in the background, but nothing unique to me under the circumstances. There is light at the end of the tunnel with Kefalonia providing the focus as time moves on but. in the interim, there is my brother, Sye's, 65th birthday bash, this weekend, then my cousin Ruth's 60th in August. Both of which need to be navigated before holiday mode kicks in!