Black Hole Marsh, Seaton - 4th August 2016
Posts getting few and far between I'm afraid. Still, having a blog at least means I can post as many photos as I like of this superb Least Sandpiper at Black Hole Marsh, Seaton - a fantastic site, really must get over more often. Apparently a real team effort by the good folks at BHM in its finding and identification - cheers guys.
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
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| Least Sandpiper 4/8/2016 Seaton, Devon |
It's an adult of course, still mostly in breeding plumage with obviously worn scapulars, wing coverts and tertials, many of the longer scaps have been dropped and at least one new upper is visible on the right side.
Incredibly a second Least Sandpiper was found on the 4th (after I'd left) and for a brief time the two were apparently in view concurrently, though not apparently together. Had there always been two? The many fine photos of this bird (it showed down to less than 3m) see
here, and
here for e.g. all show the same individual: the same dropped scaps, the same new upper scap on the right side and the same degree of wear to greater coverts. The second bird was only on view for a short time and was distant but Tim White's
photos clearly show a (different) adult Least Sand; different dropped scaps and degree of wear to greater coverts on left side, and of course the two were in view at the same time.
The chances of two turning up independently at the same time and place are tiny so I presume they travelled together. As adults they'll have already made at least one successful return journey to their wintering grounds in the Caribbean or South America. If they can do it right once, what happened this year?
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