Buff-breasted Sandpiper

While walking the fields at Loop Head this afternoon I came upon this juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the plover fields on the north side of the peninsula.  The bird arrived into the field while I was checking it and was very wary. I managed to get a few long distant record shots before the bird took off and flew inland and eastwards.

 

 Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the plover fields at Loop Head John N Murphy

 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Yet another trip to Wexford this year, yesterday 10th August where there were three adult Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Tacumschin, the blue headed Yellow Wagtail, a Little Stint and the hundreds of other supporting waders. One Gull-billed Tern was still lingering at Lady's Island and thousands of Terns were gathering at Nethertown beach. 

Adult Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Tacumschin, Wexford © John N Murphy

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

After a 4.00am start to help out on the dawn chorus at Mullaghmore in the Burren for the National Bioblitz, we headed to Wexford to see a White-winged Black Tern that was found two days earlier at Lady's Island.  Within 20 minutes of arriving at Lady's Island we picked up the adult summer WWBT flying around the colony with Roseate and Common Terns.  We then headed to Tacumschin where we saw Garganey and found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the way out to the patches.  This was my second Buff-breasted Sandpiper in a week. On Tuesday I was on the Inishkea Islands when one dropped in for a quick stay-over.  Also in Wexford we had five Reed Warblers, four Bearded Reedlings and a Short-eared Owl.  A great day in beautiful sunshine.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Wexford © John N Murphy