The one and only

After spending two days earlier this week not seeing the red-headed bunting and getting soaked in the process I needed something to cheer me up. This came in the shape of both a lifer and a break in the weather which meant I could get to see it without catching pneumonia. 

The bird was a solitary sandpiper and it had been in residence at Stodmrsh in Kent for more than a week. It initially took a few days to tie it down, both in location and for its ID. It looks very much like our commoner green sandpiper but finally some of the local birders clinched the ID and pinned down where it was likely to be seen. It is a pretty rare bird over here, breeding in Canada and Alaska and wintering in Central and South America. Presumably this one was migrating south when it got caught in one of the weather systems hurtling across the Atlantic. It was reported as being on site and showing well yesterday afternoon so it was a no-brainer to go for it.

A 4.40 alarm got me to Stodmarsh about 7.15, just as it was getting properly light. No rain and a bit of weak sun looked promising. There were already 8 cars in the car park and when I got to the reedbed hide it was almost full. I grabbed a last seat with good views out onto the muddy area where it had been feeding and settled down for the wait.

For the first half hour there was nothing much to see. Large numbers of teal, shovelers and cormorants were on the main lake but no waders were present. The mood in the hide was quiet, everyone wondering whether the bird might have moved off in the stormy weather overnight. Suddenly a wader flew in and started feeding in the margins. Unfortunately this was one of the two green sandpipers present on the reserve. 

They are very similar to solitary sandpipers but there was enough detail on show to rule out its rarer cousin. In flight and when preening the rump was white with only light barring, the legs were quite dullish-green and it had a robust jizz. We watched if for about an hour. Marsh harriers kept stirring up the ducks,

and a rather smart grey wagtail joined the green sandpiper feeding on the marsh.

Finally about 9.30 another small wader flew into the muddy area to the left of the hide. I saw virtually nothing other than a wader as it landed and promptly disappeared from my view behind some reeds. Those on the left of the hide however immediately called it as the solitary sandpiper. Everyone rushed to that end of the hide to get better views. I tried but realised two things. It looked really different to the green sandpaper, much more delicate and almost resembling a wood sandpiper in jizz. Also, it would very soon appear into clear view so another big lens photographer and myself just sat tight on the far right of the hide and played it cool. Within a couple of minutes it did indeed move into view for everybody.

It then began to feed vigorously right in front of the hide. The light was gorgeous, low wintry sun, and it was totally unfazed by the rapidly filling hide as the news went out.

Once everyone had seen the bird, confirmed its ID and got a decent photo of it the mood in the hide relaxed. The almost reverential quiet broke and conversations started to break out. The pressure was off as it was clear the target wasn't going anywhere in a hurry.

So, what makes this a solitary sandpiper as opposed to a green. This is the green sandpiper and its legs are quite dull olive.

This is the solitary and its legs are much more yellowish in colour.

Its a bit clearer in flight but the rump of a green sandpaper is plain white with limited barring on the end.

On the solitary sandpiper there is a broad black band down the middle of the tail and more extensive barring along the edges.

What is harder to see is the jizz of the two. The solitary appears slighter and to our eyes bobbed a lot less than the green when it was feeding. After an hour of watching it I decided to call it a day and head back home. It was still feeding happily and more birders were arriving to see it.

A great day. A vey obliging bird and some good company in the hide. That takes me to 412 species on the Uk list. Would be nice to get one or two more before the year comes a close though predicting which could be difficult. There are still a series of low pressures hurtling across the Atlantic so who knows!!!!