Sandpiper

For me, the distinctive piping, panicky calls of sandpipers are amongst the most distinctive sounds of summer in Weardale, along the banks of the river Wear and around Tunstall reservoir. You can listen here.

I watched this one at Tunstall reservoir yesterday, where I must have been standing close to its nest, although I never found it. The agitated bird led repeatedly me away, walking along the shoreline and bobbing up and down, then flew back about 100m. with that fast, stiff- winged shallow wingbeat that's characteristic of the species.

Sandpipers winter in Africa and this year they seemed to return a bit later that usual. Good to see them back though.

Common sandpiper

Everyone welcomes the arrival of summer migrants - swallows, cuckoos, warblers - but common sandpipers are barely noticed, which is a pity because they are such a charming feature of our northern riverbanks.

They may be common and their plumage colours are muted but they are delightful little waders. This one was feeding on the margin of Tunstall reservoir, near Wolsingham in Weardale.

When they're not feeding along the water margin they tend to perch on boulders on the edge and bob up and down - behaviour known as 'teetering'. I usually don't spot them until they fly, with those distinctive fast, shallow wing beats and three-note alarm call.

Chapel Fell

You know when spring has really and truly arrived when you hear the mournful calls of golden plover that have returned to nest on the slopes of Chapel fell in Weardale. 

We flushed this pheasant on the lower slopes of the fell too. Weardale is becoming infested with these birds.

Down in the valley bottom the sandpipers have returned to the river Wear - always a welcome sight and sound.

Anxious Parent

Every year sandpipers nest around the edge of Tunstall reservoir near Wolsingham in Weardale, but they are usually pretty elusive - frequently heard but most often seen flying away, low over the water with their fast, shallow wingbeats.

This one, though, must have had chicks somewhere nearby because it did its best to divert our attention, circling around us with a lot of frantic piping then settling on the wall.