I went to Filey Dams this morning, in the off chance of a few waders being present. The light was reasonable - high cloud and bright, but no sun. Having explored the view from both hides, I was disappointed to find there were no waders at all - not even a Lapwing. It started spotting with rain, so I thought I would call it a day (at 9-30 a.m.)! On returning to the car-park I decided to have a last look in the main hide. A Greenshank had dropped in, but was distant, so I stayed in the hope it would come within range. It did, shortly followed by another one, then a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, another Green Sand., and a single Black-tailed Godwit (which stayed behind the bund, out of sight). This group of waders performed well in front of the hide, when they weren't being chased by Moorhens, and I rapidly filled two memory cards and flattened a battery. Some of the images follow. It goes to show one shouldn't be too eager to throw in the towel.
Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos). Canon EOS 1D MkIV, 500mm F4 + 1.4X converter.
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus). Equipment as above.
Greenshank (Tringa nebularia). As above with 2X converter. A consummate wader - one of my favourites.
Greenshank preening. Equipment as above.
Greenshanks: the next four images were taken with the 1.4X converter. The pair stayed together most of the time, but occasionally had a go at each other if they got too close.
