A guest post:

I go to the marsh to see the Canada geese fly in for the night, squawking and haggling within their pairs when they arrive.

This evening I met, by chance, Nigel at the Bench, 2 cameras at hand, waiting for a sighting of the barn owl which he’d not seen at Fobney. I’ve often seen the owl and thought we’d hang around a bit and out he’d pop.

However we were in for a different adventure. After a bit Nigel spied 2 ringed plover turning and flitting above the reeds, I’d not have seen then. They settled on 2 little islands in the marsh, until a gull harrassed them and off them went back into the reeds.That was exciting, a first for Nigel at the site and, of course, for me.

We were still gunning for the owl and generally chatting, when a V formation flying in from the left caught our attention. Geese? No, a little egret leading 4 great white egret flapping eastwards. Another Fobney first for Nigel. Me, I’m the 3 GWE lady, however still wonderous to see.

So, as things come in 3s, Nigel was bound to see his owl. More chatting and scanning and a distracting little egret jumping out of the reeds looking mightily like a barn owl when you want to see a barn owl.

Then, right above the water, a sighting of 2 groups of little birds, wings going top speed, ducking and diving and murmurating before merging into one. I’d have had no idea waht they were, while Niigel saw sandmartins, about 100, doing their aerial acrobatics for a good 10 minutes. Silently they danced, into reeds, then out again, repeatedly, until finally they seemed to settle.

Nigel left, no barn owl but some noteworthy spots nonetheless.

I walked up towards little marsh, perhaps I’d see the owl. Onto the kissing gate and a loud grasshopper sound came from the reeds. Merlin said a common grasshopper warbler. Magic.

Then, to top it all, as I turned back feeling I really should go home, that sqawking and haggling sound, a pair of my Canada geese flew in onto the lake.

Perfect.

And thank to Nigel for the awesome photos, even through they’re not up to his usual standards.