A bit of a Twitch

12 Sept - A fairly rare opportunity today - a free day and my first "twitch" for a while, several good birds within range, including 2 waders, one of my favourite groups. I headed first for Chipping Sodbury common where a juvenile Woodchat Shrike has been in residence for several weeks - in morning sunshine it was feeding actively and with patience it allowed a fairly close approach, a smart bird at close quarters, and feeding from exposed perches as is usual. Also present, Whinchat and Wheatear. Then to Lodmoor in Dorset and a duo of waders from North America - firstly, a diminutive Least Sandpiper which was very obliging, tiny and mouse-like, and a juvenile Stilt Sandpiper, more elegant with a decurved bill, but still small compared with the adjacent group of Black-tailed Godwits. Good views of these vagrant waders in the sunshine - then a detour to the Bill where after a wait I had reasonable views of the Wryneck that has been present for a few days - my first in the UK for several years, amazing cryptic plumage as always. An adult Med Gull at Ferrybridge rounded off a good day!