Today started off a as bit of a nightmare as I had to go to the bank to work some money arrangements but the bank did not accept my card. Visa is not recognised by this branch of Russian Bank. So after this Myself. Liza, Pavel & Yegor (who also needed to do bank duties) took the bus to the next village of Pervomyka but when we arrived we found out that the bank was closed there for the day. So it was back to the hotel, Upon arriving back at the hotel the sun was beaming down from a beautiful blue sky above and I just had to get out on the Tundra (photo above).
Birds are now starting to arrive in both species and numbers and today was all about Wood Sandpiper's. They were singing every where (photo above) and I was so pleased with this as I did not even think I would see this species on this trip. There were 3 pairs in my area and this is the first time I have heard them singing and watched them dispalying. The display flight is awesome, they fly up singing and fly up high dropping down with exagerated raised and dipped wings climbing up again whilst doing a circle over the terirtory. I just had to sit down on the tundra, lean back and soak it all in, the sun was shining from above and every now and then small flocks of migrating Pectoral Sandpiper's would fly low past me at close range and so I just felt so at ease and relaxed with this , I am starting to enjoy the Tundra and last summer is all coming back to me.
Other note worthy sighting's today include: 1 Long Toed Stint, 21 Pectoral Sandpiper's, Semi P Plover heard calling, Short eared Owl, 2 Wheatears, 2 Red Throated Pipit's, 3 Lapland Buntings, 2 Snipe (including both birds drumming overhead) over 1000 Brent Geese, 2 Arctic and a cracking Long Tailed Skua.
After I finished watching the Wood Sasndpiper's I slowly walked through the Tundra to the furthest edge and back towards the hotel where I saw ths Pectoral Sandpiper below feeding in an open patch of grass on a small frozen pool. Watching this bird with the back drop of snow was quite a strange feeling. So tomorrow our cargo is due to arrive and we wait and see if it does and then we should start to get organised.
