Spot the Ruff

Not found one of these in Beds for a few years so pleased to pick out a SFYT juvenile Ruff running around between the legs of geese on Quest Pit last Saturday 7th. It's in the pic somewhere...just left of centre.
The brown on the reeds indicate how much the water has needed to drop over the summer to allow the meagre amount of mud to appear. There was female Pintail in the pit as well, matching a record of one I found in the same location at start of Sep in 2012, maybe even the same bird as I found in Chimney Corner back in March.

Rough times

I knew the forecast was going to be bad but you can't leave a site like Radwell alone and expect to get more juicy SFYTs.  So, with raincoat on, I searched the site getting wetter and wetter.  I've good memories of the flooded fields by Radwell bridge - I've seen Ruff here before in the winter - probably pushed our way from the Ouse Washes proper when they flood.  A good look for American Golden Plovers and Bono Gulls here but no joy.  Then a couple of hours around the lakes and a quick check of Harrold-Odell CP produced nothing for the all important SFY list.   But the flood was worth another look from the car.  Many more Golden Plovers and five fine Ruffs too.  Here's one of them, almost in focus...