Two juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers.

Stocks Reservoir, Lancs, UK - 8th September 2003.

by Glenn Hodkinson.

Upon entering the hide at 15.20hrs on Monday, 8th September 2003, I immediately began to scan along the large areas of exposed mud on the opposite bank. All I could see during this first scan were Teal, Mallard and Lapwing.

I was just thinking about the lack of Waders in general when one caught my eye as it emerged from behind a Teal, to be shortly joined by another wader.

Even from a distance, I could see they were bigger than Dunlin and both birds had quite a long primary projection. The Waders stayed together, coming gradually closer, until they were directly opposite the hide.

I watched them through my 32x scope and noticed the following details on both birds:

1) They both had a brown crown and a prominent white supercillium that extended behind the eye.

2) The upperparts were brown with dark streaking and both showed an obvious white mantle 'V'.

3) They had streaked breasts that ended abruptly and white underparts.

4) The Legs and Bills looked dirty as they were feeding in thick mud. The Bills were ever so slightly decurved.

5) One bird stretched its wing to show pale white underwings and a dark centred rump with white sides.

6) One bird then became alert and stretched its neck straight upwards, showing quite a long neck.

All these points are consistent with other Pectoral Sandpipers I have seen (inc. 4 in Lancashire alone). I watched the birds for at least 20 minutes, if not longer. Due to a Telecommunication error on my part, I had to leave the hide to inform others (J. Metcalfe and Bill Aspin). Upon my return after 45 minutes there was no sign of either bird, this remained the case despite searching by several observers until dusk. So, unfortunately, I was the only witness to this excellent record.

Glenn Hodkinson.

Record accepted by the Lancs Record Panel.