Purple Sandpiper on the Spit

[Ed O'Connor]

Today around 12:30 at the very end of Peninsula B, a spot where I've never seen this type of bird before. I was walking to the end of Peninsula A, when I looked across the gap and saw the sandpiper sunning itself on an algae-covered rock. Came back around and was going out B when I ran into Rob Prontack, and we both walked out and found the bird actively feeding among the rocks just off the point. We watched for about 15 minutes and noted that instead of flying from rock to rock, it would swim and seemed comfortable doing so. Probably a first-winter bird judging by the white-edged tertials. I took a few not-very-good photos.

[nana]

I bumped into Paul Reeves who had been out to photograph the Purple Sandpiper (check the photo board later on this site) after hearing two men talk about it - must have been Ed and his friend. I went out and saw it still at the tip around 2:30. I watched for about 15 minutes while it spent most of the time feeding on one algae covered rock just off shore.

There was a lovely big flock of 50+ Redpolls on the outer edge of Peninsula D around 1 p.m. working along high in the alders.

[Kris Ito]

Thanks for finding him Ed! He was on peninsula A this morning, probably because B was covered in ice. He was so lovely - and a lifer for me! Let's hope he stays until New Year's day when we can all count him again!

-kris

[Ed O'Connor]

Glad you got him, Kris. Interesting to compare this bird with the Dunlin we were chasing a few weeks ago.