Striding out

I went over to Farmoor Reservoir this morning, where other photographers directed me towards the Little Stint, and told me that it would be pretty easy to spot because it was hanging out with a juvenile Little Ringed Plover. Which it was, though only on sufferance: the Stint was far keener on establishing a friendship than the Plover. In fact, their attitudes were markedly different - the Little Stint was pretty calm, very focused on searching out food, and largely unimpressed by humans with cameras, while the Little Ringed Plover was obviously nervy and irritable. Every few minutes it would take off along the edge of the reservoir, calling in what sounded like alarm, and the Little Stint would rush after it.

Despite the Little Stint having been the day's target, I found myself concentrating more on photographing the Plover because I was pretty sure that it wouldn't be staying very long - and sadly, I was right. After watching both birds for about half an hour I saw the Plover take off across the reservoir - chased once again by the Little Stint - but this time, rather than looping back round to the water's edge as its companion eventually did, the Little Ringed Plover just kept going. Later in the day, while making a final circuit of Farmoor One, I spotted a Plover on the western edge. "Oh! There you are!" I said - and then, having taken a second look, "Oh! No, you're not, are you? You're Ringed, not Little Ringed." I'm trained now, you see - though honestly, if you compare this bird to the Ringed Plover I posted from Farmoor last week, I'm sure you'll agree that they're pretty easy to distinguish.

Even aside from these small and pretty waders, it was a very productive day at Farmoor. The selection I've posted to my Facebook page includes the afternoon's Ringed Plover, some of the eleven (!!) Little Egrets that were hanging out bad-temperedly together at Pinkhill Meadow, and - possibly my favourite bird of the whole day - a juvenile Common Tern, which eventually accepted that its parents weren't going to bring it food however loudly it yelled, and went and caught its own. It's tough for young birds when they're suddenly forced into independence, but having watching this Tern managing to catch several fish despite its diving technique appearing clumsy and almost desperate, I'm confident that it will be fine.