Dave Stone is a dedicated and committed birder who is constantly out and about looking for "that rarity", see his blog by clicking on the link above left. Yesterday he called me to let me know of a Grey Phalarope that he had discovered on Exminster Marsh yesterday morning. Thanks Dave. By the time I got there all the usual protagonists had also arrived and it was very pleasant to get such a nice friendly welcome from the Daves, (Stone,Land, Boult and Hopkins). I quickly located the rarity in the small pool by the lane and enjoyed seeing it, a bird that I have seen a few times but they always cause a stir when they arrive here . It was hard to get a shot because of the tall grasses between the enthusiastic bird watchers and the bird. An attempt was made by some to "trim" the grasses back which caused a large amount of nastiness from one or two others, oh the joys of twitching. I hate it really but you just have to go when there is a rare bird around or you would never see anything. It really gets my goat to see how a small minority of the public with an interest in birds like the rest of us seem to put themselves in a position of authority over the majority. I don't know how they are allowed to get away with it. They have a pseudo superior opinion of themselves, they look down their noses at photographers and just about everybody else who isn't in their odd little clique so it makes for an unpleasant atmosphere which frankly is best avoided which is why I keep myself to myself and get most of my bird watching pleasure away from the "madding crowd" as Thomas Hardy said. I came away because of them without getting a photo. So then again this morning, another Dave (Land) rang me to say it was still there. I gathered up my gear and off I went for another try. I had to laugh when I arrived because now someone had chopped down the reeds and grasses giving a clear view. the bird was there in full view proving that taking 12 inches of reed in a gap 3 feet wide had caused no disturbance whatsoever, its on a public road anyway so? Whoever chopped the reeds back was long gone but it did mean that I got a decent photo or two.  It is an interesting bird, described by someone as a juvenile but I don't think so.  Can you see the reddish tinge on the upper breast and the remains of adult plumage on the back, surely an adult but I would be pleased to hear from anyone with an opinion about that.