Hatch a plan! I can't go early on Saturday morning - Mrs B is doing a boot sale (Mrs B never does boots sales - ever! Actually this will be the first boot sale she has ever done! What are the chances that it falls on this day - Plan A: scuppered!
Plan B: Saturday PM - an early evening visit, 3hrs standing in a hide (no seats available) until dusk - no sign, dipped!
Plan C: Sunday AM - return to scene of previous days dip, waking up in what feels like the middle of the night to get to the hide and in position before sunrise - done!
Proof of my early start!
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"I think i've got it!"
"Where?"
"There in the channel"
"Where in the channel?"
"About half way down - in the reeds at the edge of the water" (It's never easy giving directions to a bird without any decent interest points to focus in on)
I'm now frantically trying to get onto the bird (along with the rest of the 50+ bleary eyed birders in the hide) but despite much efforts to point me in the direction of the Crake - thanks Lee. I just couldn't get the bins onto it! And then all to quickly the bird had returned to the depths of the marsh and out of view...bugger! I gave it a couple of more hours staring a reeds, sedges and rushes! Before reluctanty sloping off - shoulders slumped and dragging my scope on the floor behind me.
As I started penning this post the Crake had been frustratingly seen on and off for most of the day! Possibly tempting me back for a 3rd visit in two days - how I love the A13.... is that how this tale will end?
No... having already spent enough time in a hide at Rainham than is healthy for a happy and harmonise marriage – I gave the Crake one last crack! And then finally after another couple of back aching hours, standing and staring at the same stretch of rushes, I was rewarded with excellent views – aided by the careful positioning of myself in a prime front row location!
It did give itself up in the end
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It took three attempts!
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