Lancashire, UK.
17/9/00 - 22/9/00 - by
Bill Aspin.
At 13.45hrs on Sunday 17th September 2000, I had just succeeded in purchasing some petrol, thus bringing to an end an unbelievably frustrating week in which I had not been able to drive anywhere to do some birding due to a bone-dry fuel tank as a result of the blockading of Oil Refineries across the country.
No sooner had I filled the car up, I began driving from Blackburn towards the Naze. As I drove through Houghton, my mobile phone rang and Margaret Breaks informed me of a Wood Sandpiper, which was present at Champion Moor flood, which lies 3 miles south of Stocks Reservoir, on the southern edge of champion Moor.
Having never seen a Wood Sandpiper within the 'offical' recording area of the East Lancashire Ornithologist Club, I turned the car round and arrived at Champion Moor Flood at around 15.00hrs.
The weather in Blackburn had been dry and fairly clear, but at Champion Moor, the weather was foul, with low cloud, stiff wind and driving drizzle (actually, good weather conditions for grounding passage migrants!)
As I set up the scope and tripod from behind the shelter of the car boot, I could hear the Wood Sandpiper calling and I just managed to get a brief look at it through the 'bins' as it flew strongly west into the teeth of the foul weather.
At this point, to say I was disappointed at the poor view of my first 'official' East Lancs Wood Sandpiper was an understatement, However, I couldn't imagine that it would go far in such foul weather, so I decided to give it an hour to see if it would return.
There were a few other waders present, namely 4 dunlin and a few Ringed Plover and it was whilst repeatedly scanning the flood that I, very briefly, caught a glimpse of a Calidrids upperparts just visible above the grassy edge of the flood, the impression of size in this brief, poor view was of a Calidrid only slightly larger than a Dunlin.
It was at this point that John Wright rang me for an update on the Wood Sand. I told him that it had not returned and commented that there were a few Dunlin, Ringed Plover and possible another wader species present, but that I had not had a good view of it. After the Call, I resumed Scanning and after 10 minutes was looking at the few Dunlin present when the 'mystery' Calidrid walked out from the grass, in full view and I let out an audible 'expletive' as the 'impossible had happened' and I identified my 3rd Pectoral Sandpiper of the year in the Stocks Reservoir area!!!
The bird remained
faithful to the site until last seen on Friday
September 22nd 2000 and was seen by many observers.
Size/jizz
: This bird was smaller than either of the two other Pectoral Sandpipers that I
have found during the year 2000, being only slightly larger than the Dunlin that
frequented the flood during the same period. This prompted several observers to
sex this bird as a female.It showed a front heavy appearance with relatively
slim body and attenuated rear-end, was small headed, appearing relatively
long-necked at times. Usually, the bird held itself on flexed legs, except when
alert.
Bill :
Dark, except for a paler base, mainly to the lower mandible. Bill
length was just slightly greater than the length of the head and was slightly
de-curved.
Eye :
Dark.
Head/Neck :
The crown, particularly the central crown was rufous
with dark streaking. The darkness of the crown was emphasised furthur by the
strong, off-white supercillia which extended well behind the eye and isolated
the crown giving the bird a 'capped' effect. A dark loral line was present.The
throat was a paler off-white.The sides of the head and nape were a paler brown,
with fine dark streaking which extended down the neck. The lower nape was more
rufous with darker streaking as it merged with the mantle.
Breast :
The breast was a warm brown. The fine streaking from
the neck became thicker and darker on the breast. The pectoral band was
strikingly well defined and formed a light 'v' at it's centre.
Upperparts :
The bird showed prominent mantle and scapular 'v's.
All upperpart feathering consisted of dark feather centres with, predominently
rufous fringing.The overall impression was of a juv in really fresh
plumage.The tertials were similarly dark centred with bright, rufous fringes.
Wings :
appeared long-winged in flight with a narrow, pale wingbar.At rest,
the wings extended very slightly past the tip of the tail. Underparts : White.
Legs : pale green/yellow.
Call : 'Chirrup' would be my interpretation. Commented by
myself and other observers as being reminiscent of Curlew Sandpiper.
Accepted
by the Lancashire Rarities Committee.