Another American bird arrives
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Image MJMcGill
At high tide this morning the WeBS count was interrupted by the discovery of a juvenile Buff Breasted Sandpiper. The bird was very mobile and associated with the Dunlin and Ringed Plover at times. The rising tidal surge caused it to move to the centre of the saltmarsh shelf which is viewable from the Holden Tower. A group went out at 1100 to try to locate it but did not see it anywhere. I headed out at 1215 and did not see it until 1335. I saw it fly fairly high south at Middle Point. It was calling and flew far out onto the estuary dropping into the spartina island. This provides a lot of cover and a good place to feed but sadly does not allow views of much out there. Despite scanning I could not see it at all. I will look for it again on tommorows tide and if located will try to arrange viewing. This is a long distance migrant that breeds in the North American Arctic and winters in South America.
Zeiss Hide/Bottom New Piece
Long-billed Dowitcher 1 (also back on South Lake in the afternoon)
Bar-tailed Godwit juvenile
Black-tailed Godwit 170
Redshank 8
Ruff 5
Ringed Plover 8 over high tide
Dunlin 10 over high tide
Garganey 2
Teal 450
Wigeon 8
South Lake
Redshank 70
Ruff 2
Dunlin 2
Black-tailed Godwit 30 (more later along with the LB Dowitcher)
Great Crested and Little Grebes
Teal 200
Rushy
Green Sandpiper 3
Robbie Garnett Hide
Wigeon 24
Dumbles pools
Little ringed Plover juvenile
Ringed Plover 6
Dunlin 2
Ruff 5 (the Top New Piece birds)
