Up early and enjoying the sun

Today was the rescheduled dawn chorus walk at Doxey Marshes.  Being later in the season not all the birds usually expected were in full song, but we still clocked up several warblers including chiffchaff, blackcap, sedge, reed and grasshopper.  Waders were a bit thin on the ground as water levels continue to drop from the recent flooding but a snipe was feeding on the shoreline of Tillington Flash whilst a lapwing displayed overhead.

Star bird without a doubt was an unexpected sanderling on the shoreline of Creswell Flash.  A great little treat.  Apologies for the awful photo.

This afternoon I made my way to Loynton Moss, probably my favourite Trust nature reserve.  The flower meadows were beginning to burst in to life and the first few orchids were also in bloom.  Common spotted were an unexpected surprise but I was glad to find southern marsh orchid in the wetter parts of the grassland, or so I thought...

After sending the photos to a colleague at the Trust it appears the orchids could be early marsh orchids, and not southern.  The photo has been sent off for verification.  Any orchid experts out there care to make a suggestion?  Tweet me @ScottoftheMarsh