We gingerly opened the door to Nel’s hide and were greeted by a mass of packed bodies emanating a noise, heat and stench reminiscent of Megadeth’s twice-sold-out show at the Marquee in 1991. The paparazzi were crammed in tighter than Tokyo commuters. No thankyou. We turned on our heels and went to scope some geese instead.

Fortunately we’d popped in to see the Red-necked Phalarope early on, and were just hoping for a chance of a second viewing with less squinting and migraine-induction.

It was a sunny morning and the glare was fierce, but we were able to watch the tiny visitor paddling around near the godwits for a while before the crowds became too intimidating, and I squeezed off a few crappy record shots to boot.

Next we headed to the side of the reserve where we would have the light behind us to view the cattle egrets, followed by a Curlew Sandpiper-free Crossens Inner and an almost goose-free Crossens outer. A selection of very smart Ruff was on hand though, and wigeon numbers are starting to build.

Back to Sandgrounders for lunch and a fine display of raptors, with three species of falcon from the hide, and buzzard and marsh harriers over t’road.