27/08/2016 Baird's Sandpiper at Reculver

Saturday 27 August 2016
Coldharbour Lagoon, Reculver, Kent

It was a "no brainer" for me to make the trip up to the NE Kent coast to see the Baird's sandpiper.  The bird, which was first seen yesterday, would be a lifer for me. The weather conditions were superb again with the temperatures a few degrees lower than yesterday and there was a refreshing sea breeze.   

I was surprised how easily I got there, considering it was bank holiday weekend; traffic was heavy but it was moving all the time and I was there in just under 2 hours. 

Coldharbour Lagoon is a good 20 minute walk east from the car park - a chance to get in my 10 000 steps today while I enjoyed the sunshine. 

• The Baird's sandpiper was showing well from just 30 metres away so I was able to enjoy prime viewing rights over a lengthy period.

Baird's sandpiper
courtesy of KOS

• Baird's sandpipers breed in the northern tundra from eastern Siberia to western Greenland. They nest on the ground, usually in dry locations with low vegetation.
• They are a long distance migrant, wintering in South America. This species is a rare vagrant to western Europe.

• One of the best identification features is the long wings, which extend beyond the tail when the bird is on the ground. Only the white-rumped sandpiper also shows this, and that bird can be distinguished by its namesake feature.

And it wasn't alone; there were several other interesting birds present as well.

• a little stint was in close proximity and was busy feeding on the muddy waters at the edge of the lagoon.
• a greenshank showed up and joined the others.
• 2 dunlin completed the small group.

Addition to BUBO UK 2016 Bird List:

Baird's Sandpiper   (234)

Addition to BUBO UK Birds Life List:

Baird's Sandpiper   (319)

A great late morning/early afternoon visit. 

I called in at RSPB Cliffe Pools on the way home but there was no sign of the black terns - or any other terns - that had been reported there earlier in the day.

• Pick of the birds seen here was the 100+ avocets.

• Also seen were lots of redshank, black-tailed godwits and great black-backed gulls.