Four years ago my godson Spud (so called because he looked like a potato on the CAT scan) had the selfishness to be born on a fine August day precisely when an Aquatic Warbler turned up at Spurn.
I ferried doting relatives to see the tiny sprog in hospital instead of tazzing to the east coast to connect with this superb warbler.
Ya little weasel!
Okay, so now Spud looks less like a potato and more like, well, a pirate, fireman or god knows what, depending on which game he's playing, but the Aquatic pain has always been there for me.
Consequently I have since harboured the idea of making him drive me to see an Aquatic when I'm old and in a grumpy bathchair, wrinkled spindly legs covered with a tartan rug, but obviously I would have had to wait a few years before that was possible.
Instead I whizzed down to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire today and jumped aboard a Land Rover trailer that bumped me out to the water meadows at the back of this megareserve.
After about an hour scanning the pool pictured above, a gorgeous Aquatic Warbler poked its humbug black and yellow stripey head out of the fuscus, then showed real well on and off for ten minutes, giving me great 'scope views.
Yee-haw!!! Tickety tick tick!
Its straw coloured back, and braces, pale legs and overall yellowy caste made Mr Spikey Tail (copyright Pete Kinsella in reference to a Bobolink we once watched years ago on the Scillies) really stand out from the many Sedge Warblers in the area.
The head pattern was mindblowing - what a warbler!
It called once or twice - tacking from cover like a Blackcap. Marvellous.
A Whinchat was at the back of the pools, and loads of Common Terns floated about overhead.
Warbler safely on list I headed back to the centre, where after a Peter Scott Pasty and a NeNe Nacho I took a walk in the grounds.
Always good to see where all the American ducks on my UK list have come from.
From one hide there was a Green Sandpiper and several Ruff, and a Hobby so distant it may well have been in another county.
One showed better spooking the hirundines over the car park as I prepared to depart.
Life is good.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Dear Uncle John,
In my defence,it was some strange men in white coats who decided on my early arrival so sue them!!
I'm glad you finally got your bird. Along with whether to eat pizza or sausage roll, and deciding which Mr Man book really is the best, this has played constanly on my mind for the last 4 years.
When mummy finally lets me take the steering wheel I will gladly drive you and Barry around Plex Moss - only if I get to wear the camouflage too.
Two delightful red squirrels playing in the garden this morning eating the birds nuts, and woody woodpecker is back in the willow tree.
See you at the weekend for more pirating - far more interesting!!!
love Spud