'Training day' at Titchwell

Elis and I spent a fine day at Titchwell RSPB reserve in Norfolk with our South African co-ordinators. Peter and Jenny Sharland, who were over in the UK for the bird fair. We were getting our eye-in on the waders. Taking a leaf out of the successful Olympians book we thought a bit of training wouldn't go amiss. Here are some of the waders we came across.

Pied Avocet feeding

Juvenile Pied Avocet

Same juvenile

Eurasian Curlews

Eurasian Curlew

Bar-tailed Godwit

Juvenile Ruddy Turnstone

Common Redshank

Northern Lapwing

Juvenile Dunlin

Juvenile Red Knot

Same bird bathing

Juvenile Ruff

Juvenile Ruff

Juvenile Ruff

Juvenile Ruff

Juvenile Ruff

Juvenile Little Stint

Juvenile Little Stint

This bird caused a bit of excitement with people attempting to make it into White-rumped, Baird's, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers. It didn't have a white-rump, nor Baird's straight narrow-tipped bill. In any case the primaries didn't extend far beyond the tail which neatly excludes both.

Little Stint?

Having said that the bill is rather heavy for a Little Stint and the dark breast is not typical as far as I know, but it doesn't seem to fit Semipalmated Sandpiper either.

Little Stint

Same bird.

My tendancy is always to assume it is the common bird before trying to make it something rarer. At the time I thought it was probably an adult moulting into winter plumage, but I was not sure. Having consulted with others it seems they are of the same opinion. Shame really, wish it could have been more exciting.