DAVID'S NATURE BLOG

20^th AUGUST 2026 - ABBERTON RESERVOIR

John picked me up at 08.45 hrs (Mike had family commitments) and we arrived at the Layer Breton Causeway under an hour later, after a short diversion.

Info’ received prior to our arrival said that a Pectoral Sandpiper had relocated from Wigborough Bay to the Layer Breton, so all we needed to do was to locate the birdwatchers, which wasn’t at all hard to do; and within a few minutes we’d enjoyed exceptionally close views of the bird, which was in company with several Ruff. My camera was busy too, and with a 2x Converter lens fitted to the 100-400mm telephoto, some wonderful photos were obtained - though in reality, the converter wasn’t needed because the bird was so close anyway. The Ruff photos (these birds are always photogenic) were good too. We also had a brief view of a Spotted Redshank, both in flight and at rest (though the latter views were distant).

I was surprised at the number of Spoonbills present - fifteen at the Layer Breton, but we eventually saw twenty-four in total, adding those seen from the hides later. Strange to think that a few years back Spoonbills were rare here, but now they’ve even bred, and general numbers are increasing. The same could be said for Great Egrets - one of which was with the Spoonbills (the size difference was amazing; the Egret towering over them). So, round to the Layer De La Haye Causeway, although there was little of note to see here, other than a few Little Egrets and Great Egrets, one of which came remarkably close to enable better photography. There was also a Black-necked Grebe which also gave excellent views, and a distant Garganey which John picked up through his telescope, although it was in ‘rest mode’ most of the time.

Following a welcome coffee at the Visitors’ Centre, we traipsed straight round to the Hide Bay bird hide, to await the arrival of an Osprey, which had apparently been present for six weeks on and off. But, through our two hours vigil, we were to be disappointed in that regard. But we did gain views of possibly three Western Marsh Harriers - two juveniles and a possible adult female (though it was hard to distinguish them) which were known to have breed in the reeds opposite the hide. We also saw a distant Red Kite; a couple of distant Common Buzzards; a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk, but no Hobby, which was seen earlier.

As mentioned previously, there were an additional nine Spoonbills at rest on the opposite bank, and at least eleven more Great Egrets scattered around the bay. A couple of Common Terns were catching fish, not always successfully, and there were several distant Black-tailed Godwits, which were seen in flight when the Lapwings got up!

On the way back through the Centre, I saw a couple of Small Heath butterflies; at least 2 Common Blues; a Wall Brown; a Meadow Brown; at least two Azure Damselflies; a few Common Darters; a singleton Ruddy Darter; and several Migrant Hawkers.