Out at Broadmeadows in Swords yesterday I was hoping to get a look at some curlew sandpipers. At the very least I was looking for some close up shots of ruff, as my long lens isn't great for anything beyond 50 feet away, and the conditions were right - the tide was low, the sun was out, and usually a bit of patience rewards you with ruff coming in close and feeding along the shoreline.
I arrived and started scanning through the various waders when I happened upon the first curlew sandpiper; it was my first this year for Swords, and only the second I'd ever successfully found without having someone else to point it out or confirm it for me. After another minute I spotted a second so I was delighted with myself. But something was different about this one. I couldn't get my head around it at first and after flicking through my guide I still couldn't figure it out. "Curlew sands? Nah, bill too straight, legs are yellow. A stint? Too big, bill too short. Wood sandpiper? Maybe, but it's too small, and look at the bill. Yank wader? No way, I couldn't be that lucky!" I decided I'd ring my friend Mark and see if he had any ideas. After giving him a brief description he said "sounds like a stilt sandpiper to me, Niall", which I knew was a rarity (a Yank wader) but didn't think I'd ever find one. After a few more minutes, panicking and wishing someone more knowledgeable than me would show up, another birder Paul appeared. It was the lifeline I needed. He'd been watching the same bird and wanted to get closer to get a few photos.
Paul soon confirmed Mark's suspicions - it
was a stilt sandpiper, a mega, and on my local patch! We congratulated each other and word was put out. I soon had another first - a major twitch. Birders were arriving within minutes, first Mark who I had phoned for help, then people I didn't know, then more familiar faces. By 6 o'clock there were 25 people and 15 cars, a minor traffic jam at the nearby roundabout, and lots of confused looking walkers and joggers.
The bird was nearly forgotten about in the madness, but everyone got great views, if a little distant. I went back today for another look and got better views again, it's an impressive little bird, very elegant with really long legs and bill and a nice supercilium. Of course the photos I got are pants but still! Lots of other stuff turned up: at least 5 curlew sandpiper, 6 ruff, some snipe, a buzzard and a peregrine. So two days of wonderful birding within 10 minutes of my house and a major tick for me!
2 of the many Ruff on show at Swords
The star of the show, Stilt Sandpiper. A ropey photo but you can see the bill length, and just about make out the dull yellow legs
Redshank. Taken while trying out a 500mm Sigma lens that was kindly given to me by Mary (thanks Mary!)
Black Tailed Godwits scattered by a passing Peregrine
Curlew Sandpiper, in front of the Redshank, which is in front of the Black Headed Gull
