23rd April 2024.
I managed to wangle a day off work after a Marsh Sandpiper had been present in Hampshire for a few days. Someone mentioned that this species was becoming less regular, with very few recent records, and a habit of not sticking very long. This made up my mind to give it a go, so an overnight journey found me on the south coast at Normandy Marsh.
I wasn't particularly confident of it being there, having been present for possibly up to five days previously (it was initially identified as a Greenshank). At dawn around 5.30 am I wandered over to the Marsh with one other birder, but as it got lighter there was a lot noise from the busy lagoon but no sign of the Marsh Sandpiper. I moved on to check another part of the lagoon but the bird couldn't be seen. I then moved back to the original viewpoint overlooking its favoured spot, and there it was!
The site was actually hosting a load of different migrant waders, so there was a lot for the increasing number of birders to look at. Spring migrants included Curlew Sandpipers, Spotted Redshanks and Greenshanks.
Thanks for looking!
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