Birding around Upton and Middlebere ( part 2 )

After an enjoyable, relaxed hour and a half birding at Upton park we set off to continue on the way to Middlebere....

I have to say the Purbecks are one of my Fav parts of the country, for some reason it always seems sunnier than where I live ( Bournemouth ). Anyway inside the hide at Middlebere ( Avocet hide ) it was unusually quiet and deviod of birders. I checked the set of dead trees the Osprey always perches on across the river with my scope, no sign yet.

Unfortunately we arrived when the tide was out, so not a lot of waders around, only a few Shelducks ( with some really cute chicks and a few juvs), Oystercatchers, Little egrets and Redshanks. After about half an hour of watching and waiting for some other birds to turn up to no avail, we heard the footsteps of some people walking down the wooden bridge towards the hide, no doubt birders and a nice bit of company.

Never caught the birders names but they were a really nice couple who happily chatted away about birds with us, as we all scanned the main river for waders and others . The Osprey did turn up on the dead tree later on but the views were not great, as there was a dreadful heat haze which made the osprey look like a big black and white blob on the horizen. Also a cracking Common sandpiper flew in on to the small streamish river directly in front of the hide giving us all lovely views, another new bird for the Yearlist :).