I was back at Rutland Water
with Dave today as the Buff-breasted Sandpiper had been seen again on lagoon
four. When we arrived there was no sign
and it transpired that John Wright had seen the bird again but only for about a
minute. It had dropped in, in front of
sandpiper hide, ran around for a short time and then flew off.
There were three Ringed
Plovers, a Little Stint, three Ruff, a Snipe and a Greenshank but after a good
hour there was still no sign of the sandpiper.
Roger had joined us and we all
decided to walk back to the carp park and check out the meadows but there was
no sign. When we reached the car park
John, Colin and Chris where there and were discussing the best options. We were about to go and look in the fields
along Church Lane when Matthew, who we had seen earlier, called Roger and
informed him that he had seen it on the island in south arm three. We set off to Gadwall hide as whilst a little
further away than the Old Hall the light would be much better.
When we reached the hide and began
scanning there appeared to be no waders but the Roger and I saw a Dunlin on the
right hand end and we assumed that other waders were probably on the other side
of the island. I then noticed a wader on
the top of the island but it turned and was facing away. The others got on it and it turned and walked
right and was the Buff-breasted Sandpiper.
The problem with viewing waders on the island is that clear plumage
details are not possible due to the distance.
However when standing erect it was clearly small headed and the neck
longish and appearing quite attenuated.
It was clearly buffish around the head and breast but paler on the lower
belly. The crown was darker and the upperparts
darker, appearing a little greyish at times, particularly in the bright
sunlight.
The Pectoral Sandpiper, a
Curlew Sandpiper and at least four Dunlin were also observed and my second
Hobby, a juvenile, flew over.
Not ideal views of the
sandpiper but at least I have now seen it and added another species to my
county total, which now stands at 266.
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