This is what birders would call a "record shot" of a White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis), a rare bird in the UK. I travelled to Davidstow Airport in North Cornwall today in the hope of seeing the bird that has been there for the last few days amongst the small scattered flocks of migrating Dunlin, a bird that they are closely related. When we arrived we immediately found it, a birder had it in his scope and we were able to get it in the scopes with relative ease. It was disturbed by a particularly selfish dog walker and then it was at least 2 hours before we located it again. It was hard to get any kind of decent photo but we watched it for ages as it fed in the short grass, probing for worms and leather jackets. Of all the small sandpipers this is one of only two species that has wings that extend past the tail when at rest, the other being Bairds Sandpiper. Along side the Dunlin, this was a slightly smaller bird with a shorter bill. Here's another shot of the bird feeding.
The White-rumped Sandpiper breeds in the Alaskan tundra and is a long distant migrant, wintering in South Amarica. The one in Cornwall is way off course and who knows where it will end up. There are many millions of birds on migration at this time of year and just a tiny, tiny minority of birds finish up off course. While we were looking for the very rare sandpiper we saw and photographed several Curlew Sandpiper. This would normally be a bird that would attract a fair degree of attention i it's own right but human nature is an odd thing and I found it odd that people looking for the white Rumped were disappointed when they realised that they were "on" the wrong bird.
When I have been to Davidstow Airfield previously I have seen and photographed Ringed Plover, a very nice little bird and today they were just as noticeable and easy to see as on my previous visits.
Wildlife in a Suburban Garden 
Leave a comment