Semipalmated Sandpiper

With mid-summer doldrums having set in, the last couple of days have got the blood flowing again. Yesterday I'd barely taken my seat at Whitburn Obs when I picked up a White-winged Black Tern about 600m out. Already south of us, it was battling into the wind and allowed decent views for Paul and I for the next five minutes. This was immediately followed by the usual pod of about 30 Bottlenose Dolphin heading south.

This morning a quieter seawatch with the highlight a smart, close Roseate Tern. From there it was to Washington WT for the mystery peep. Seen almost immediately on arrival it was clearly not a Little Stint and good scope views of it on hard ground revealed the diagnostic semi-palmations of a Semipalmated Sandpiper. The day improved further when a Spotted Crake appeared just inches from the Sandpiper. Unfortunately this dashed into the sedge, having been seen by just three of us.

Semipalmated Sandpiper