Whilst walking along a green lane in mid Dorset at dusk last week I disturbed a starling sized bird from the 3m high hazel hedgerow. It had distinctive narrow 'cranked' wings with pointed tips. It flew in four 'zig zags' with several quick 'flick' wing beats and landed back in the hedge about 30 m further on. it did this three or four times.
Each time it gave a single 'squeak' (as opposed to 'sqwark') surprise/alarm call as it sprung up.
Being nearly dark at the time it was silhouetted against the residual skylight to the west and so I could see no markings or colour. It gave the impression of 'undistinctive' tail and a slim body (but not as slim as a swallow). Although the area is close to heath and woodland with nightjars, and I have seen these in the vicinity of the watermeadows, this bird appeared somewhat smaller than a nightjar and had a less distinct tail length. The wings being cranked were not crescent shaped like a hobby (which also frequent the area). s it was flying away from me each time I could not see its beak/bill.
The track is one field away (about 100 metres) from watermeadows at this point and the watermeadows are bounded by alder and ash trees and also have associated scrub / bramble clumps.
I can only think it was a Common Sandpiper but felt it an unusual choice of roost and the body seemed a bit slim for a sandpiper. Snipe frequent the watermeadows but I have not seen sandpipers there before and would not associate them with hedgerow roosts.
Does anyone have suggestions as to what this might have been?
Each time it gave a single 'squeak' (as opposed to 'sqwark') surprise/alarm call as it sprung up.
Being nearly dark at the time it was silhouetted against the residual skylight to the west and so I could see no markings or colour. It gave the impression of 'undistinctive' tail and a slim body (but not as slim as a swallow). Although the area is close to heath and woodland with nightjars, and I have seen these in the vicinity of the watermeadows, this bird appeared somewhat smaller than a nightjar and had a less distinct tail length. The wings being cranked were not crescent shaped like a hobby (which also frequent the area). s it was flying away from me each time I could not see its beak/bill.
The track is one field away (about 100 metres) from watermeadows at this point and the watermeadows are bounded by alder and ash trees and also have associated scrub / bramble clumps.
I can only think it was a Common Sandpiper but felt it an unusual choice of roost and the body seemed a bit slim for a sandpiper. Snipe frequent the watermeadows but I have not seen sandpipers there before and would not associate them with hedgerow roosts.
Does anyone have suggestions as to what this might have been?
