When considering what new species I might see next I certainly wouldn't have considered a Western Sandpiper. This North American wader breeds in Alaska & the north tundra and there are only six accepted records on the main land in Britain with a total of only 15 ever including islands and Ireland. This bird was discovered on 22nd July at RSPB Snettisham although it was the 23rd when news broke. Snettisham sits on "The Wash" so great birding is guaranteed at high tide so timing was going to be critical. Our plan was head over two hours before high tide on Saturday evening in hope the rare Sandpiper returned with the incoming waders.
We didn't have to worry about being the only ones there as there were hundreds of birders who kept coming and coming in the hope of seeing the bird. As we waited patiently there was loads to keep us entertained. The local Peregrine was taunting the huge number of swirling Knot and Dunlin whilst there were four species of tern including Rosette, Common, Arctic & Sandwich. Other species were 3 Turtle Dove, Spotted Redshank, Little Egret, Mediteriaan/ Black-headed/Great Black-backed/ Common Gull, Ringed Plover and Sanderling.
Finding this species on our own among the thousand of waders would have been impossible, thankfully there were hundred of others all looking for the same single bird. When the shout came up someone had seen it it was panic stations to get on the bird yourself. The Squire scored quite quickly but it took me a couple of minutes and different positions to nail it. The bird was always moving quickly mainly on the mud flats and occasionaly the waters edge. Getting any views for a sustained length of time was difficult as the tide kept moving the birds in.
As we headed back to the car we noted the huge number of waders roosting on the lagoon islands. With a long drive ahead in the dark we walked swiftly back to the car park which was rammed with cars, quite unbelivable. A cracking evenings birding.
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