Tuesday, 8 August 2017

Mystery Wader

Did a couple of hours at the farmlands this morning. Had a mystery wader come off the islands being chased by the juvenile Peregrine. 

 Looks like an adult Sanderling in this shot with what appears to be a brick red head and breast but also looks like the colour extends along the flanks. Is that dark on the belly? 
 That same pattern is evident- brick reddish colour on the breast and flanks. Looks rather long-winged for a Sanderling in this shot. Bill looks more Dunlin like- almost looks like Curlew Sand in this shot. 
 No white rump so not a Curlew Sand- the bill looks more Dunlin like in this shot. What looks like moult in the right wing indicates an adult bird. Could just be a moulting adult Dunlin? 
 Common Tern flew through today too
and the juvenile Peregrine 

4 comments:

Arjun Dutta said...

Great picture of the Peregrine!
I was playing in a cricket tournament at Beddington park today and had 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel and heard a single call from a wader which sounded like a Sandpiper, (probably Green.) All from the air from the farmlands.
Did you settle with Dublin or Sanderling for the wader?

Arjun Dutta said...

*Sorry meant Dunlin (stupid phone autocorrect!)

Steve Gale said...

I'll have five bob on Sanderling

Peter Alfrey said...

Cheers Arjun.
With Steve's vote for Sanderling we've got 3 declared for Sanderling and 1 for Dunlin so far.