As my 'photographed list' nears 200 UK birds, the arrival of new species within a reasonable traveling distance becomes less common and more desirable.  There has been a short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus), apparently the second ever recorded in the UK, at RSPB Lodmoor in Weymouth for a couple of weeks.  I went down this afternoon with Rob Chace who was keen for an addition to his life list and eventually found it on the western boundary of the reserve feeding around the margin of a fairly shallow pool.  I initially mistook it for a snipe which may seem daft to experienced birders but to me it still looks pretty snipe-like!  While it was near enough to photograph, the light was fairly poor but at least we saw and photographed the bird and the torrential rain of the previous day seemed to be over.  Apparently the water level at Lodmoor was considerably lower before yesterday's rain and the bird had been feeding on mud just a few feet from the footpath!

Short-billed dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus Short-billed dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus Short-billed dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus Short-billed dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus Lodmoor is a great place to photograph water birds and there were a few black-tailed godwits standing very close to the footpath precariously balanced in the strong wind.

Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa