No, I'm not referring to hitting the marsh before 8am for the third day running, but rather this Moorhen, clearly a bird at the back of the queue when they were handing out survival genes, who thought it was right to confront this young GBB with full blown threat posturing at the bottom of Marshside One this morning.
Like a smiling crocodile the GBB ignored the Moorhen for a few minutes, then lunged at it, trying to drown it in the shallow water.
It was only the fact that the patron saint of all rails, St Idiot of Daftville, was watching over the Moorhen that allowed it to scramble off into cover.
Dumb dumb dumb.
Earlier a few migrants zipped thro' - 5 Sand Martins over the SSSI ditch, 2 singing Chiffchaff from the golf course path, a single Fieldfare and six Redpolls.....hardly a fair reward for another early start.
Plenty of Blackwits and Ruff about today as usual, and at least three Wheatears around the Sandplant.
At least 50 Avocets on Marshside One, with two Little Stints - I'm sure there were more of both, but 2,700 Golden Plover sparkling in the sun was a sight to boost the soul of a man desperate to find more migrants.
Young Mallard and Coot out on the marsh now.
Amazingly, the Green Winged Teal was actually doing something this morning; unfortunately it was hiding in a creek in front of Sandgrounders Hide, but a young Merlin was easier to watch as it perched on a post under the bank.
Too far off to get a decent picture, but what a sneaky hunting tactic....
Met up with Neill, Tropical, John Bannon, Micky Boy Stocker and Mike McKavett at Nels Hide, where a ribald conversation involving whistles, White Tailed Eagles and Trops' Friday nite (don't ask) soon meant we had the place to ourselves.
One Swallow whizzed thro', boosting spirits, but we all knew the cool west-south-west wind has to shift round a bit before the serious rush of birds begins.....
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Do you think the Green Winged Teal has applied for British Nationality?
It doesn't seem to be the least bit interested in leaving!
Had my first House Martin over my house today, saw 2 Swallows on the 2nd but zilch since.