June 2008
White-Rumped Sandpiper at Grove Ferry.
19/06/08
A really distant White-Rumped Sandpiper seen at Grove Ferry.
What I thought would be an ordinary hour or so at Grove Ferry this afternoon, turned out to be just the opposite, with a new life tick for me in the shape of a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. I saw Marc Heath on the ramp when I arrived, with Anne, Chris and Matt Hindle, and they were looking at a wader, which Chris Hindle identified as a WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPER, the first I have ever seen. Martyn Wilson arrived after the Hindle family had left, and he also confirmed that it was indeed a Summer Adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, having found the last one at Grove Ferry some years ago. A Marsh Harrier passed over the pool and this spooked the WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and it flew across the pool, giving clear views of its white rump, before settling back down on the rear of the pool to the right of the ramp. It did fly again, this time landing on the spit in front of the ramp, on the main pool, giving us clear views, where plumage and marking details could be clearly observed. Also noted, whilst most of our attention was held by the Sandpiper, were 3 Little Ring and 2 Ring Plovers, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Female landing in a bush to the rear of the main pool, and a Sparrow Hawk passing over head, carrying prey.
I could not find the TEMMINCK’S STINT that some one put out on the RBA pager, but the WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER more than made up for that.
Apologies for the poor picture, but digi-scoping equipment is on the horizon.