The end of May and the start of June

Back to Saturday, and I had a quick spin round Collingham Pits and Meering in the morning; not much of huge note, although a displaying Turtle Dove accompanied by a female was at Meering Marsh, which was great.

2 Turtle Doves flanking a Stockie

The it was over to Liverpool, ready for my best mate Dave's wedding. We spent his last night as a free man not down the pub, but visiting his local patch, of course! Carr Lane Pools in Hale is a great looking site, a shallow flooded pool in cattle grazed field; the pool held around 900 islandica Black-wits, seemingly almost all sub-adults, and a super ginger male Ruff in full breeding regalia. The grass held a few young Lapwing and Redshank, and a couple of Yellow Wags. Nearby, 7 Sanderling were on the Mersey off Hale Marsh. 

Lots of Black-wits

Ruff, with a ruff

Carr Lane Pools, Hale

Back home on Monday afternoon, it was back up to Collingham for a Wood Sandpiper seen earlier in the day on Ferry Lane Lake; unfortunately there was no sign by the time I got there...