I had arranged to meet up with Bassist on Thursday at Marshside near Southport. There has been recent sightings of Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and a drake Garganey we were both keen to see.

Due to a prior appointment with my dentist and then good old British Rail, it was 12.30pm by the time I got there. Bassist had called me while I was on the train to say that the Curlew Sandpipers were right outside Nels hide and I should go straight there.

I jumped in a taxi at...