So, another Grey Phal! And another find, my third (although the first was a joint effort).
I was cycling into work around Overton Lake when I picked it up. Initially heard calling rather like Kingfisher and while scanning for it saw this. At first in flight it resembled a tiny marsh tern! As it got closer it looked more wader-like and I entertained thoughts of Sanderling, but it didn't look right and that call was wrong. Then it landed on the water, still rather distant, but the penny had dropped and I was fairly sure of the id at this point and started to ring the other birders I knew were on site.
It remained flighty, only settling and attempting to feed for short periods. Before anyone else got to it it flew off and it took a while to refind it on Overton again where it was successfully seen by Don Gardener, Chris Avanti, Matt Webb and Mike Weedon. I stayed with it for about half an hour until it flew off again. I headed off to work but it was relocated on Gunwade Lake where it showed well until 10:00 when it flew off high to the north.
Of course the photos leave a lot to be desired. It was very dull (which is why the bird was here in the first place) and the bird stayed at a good distance. I've included the blurred flight shots as it's nice to have some images of the open wing.
Grey Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicarius![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXgtNSV7FOn1fHzjpWj3tr1trcE6vBqAu3hsVKzLLqDWPgTV_CxpPaR1CXoYp4rymZLTcmvWgQt1Qoh-tkypWLoThSXv7LR-X-Y-egwjUJk6oW6DrkRgUZsURf_iTRRrcuk8_/s400/grey_phalarope_9nov11_800l_8032.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihGvlMy_MAX6w-D6GKwsP2pzTLuOlN971DX4a8zgZxv2St6s_cIbnlfQbOoki8B0xBbBlDNeE7m_PfxInsVf1YLK0PDUtAHVq67OlfFWE8Ubtj0cgSKyFmbhhvLPt71MFj1To/s400/grey_phalarope_9nov11_800l_8028.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLOZ8Pbbt7pAMB-PCgQVTMpUFpeCNhik5TWBI78cggLnlRt6yoP6NT6AEngsE0DWPNGC9QRD6RgxxYm9d1C8nbsgLhcevwdiw8tM9l8za-xRAcL6mZGYwBHh88HiTR3AQ9FO0/s400/grey_phalarope_flight_blurred_9nov11_640s_8012.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuA3fpkEgCW7HdXC_wyEV3Jc0Fwh8Jij5tFuQ_Bajrmqy9j770lbcv98qxiJrV6h7aRsS2MlYSLSAK9NeT9Pf5fWF7KrrOBIQ0KSUaqLtUyrED8oK_LdKA8cFOb0xuZmk5MJ7q/s400/grey_phalarope_flight_blurred_9nov11_640l_8015.jpg)
Canon EOS 500D 70-300mm IS USM