I couldn’t believe my eyes late this afternoon. Being stranded at home without transport, it was dull and overcast, there was very little going on in and around the garden. I decided to take a trip in to the City to organise a few things but diverted to the local trading estate to have a look at a new scooter…. but that’s another story. I was literally stopped in my tracks as I crossed the Alphinbrook, at this stage a concrete eyesore that is constrained between high concrete banks at pavement level. You would think it about the least wildlife friendly place in the whole of Devon. There, in the water below, adjacent to Lidl’s car park, was a Green Sandpiper! It was bobbing away in the shallow water which at this point trickles over solid concrete. If that was not enough, a Grey Wagtail was nearby. Perched above, only a few feet from the main road and pedestrians, was a Little Egret. Of course, I had no camera and I stopped a bloke, a total stranger in a BMW and told him about the bird and my need to get my equipment  2 minutes by car back in to the village of Alphington. He didn’t even hesitate and gave me a lift back to get my gear. What a hero. As soon as I got back the Sandpiper, still feeding away, took to the air and landed down stream amongst an area that is a little more natural. after only a few minutes it came back to the original spot and I took just 2 photos before a dog walker disturbed it and it left again. Here is one of the photos.

I continued on my way to the bike shop and on my way back noticed that the Little Egret had returned to his/her original spot. I took a 100 or so shots getting closer and closer as I gained the birds confidence. Little Egret are a very, very noticeable bird in this part of Devon and they can always be relied on to give a good photo. This is, however the closest I have ever been to one out of a hide and I just had to share them with you.