Thursday, 20 May 2021

Small Waders, The Gann - Wednesday

Nice to bump into Ian Smith again yesterday at the Gann. Similarly, I managed to count 117 Dunlin on the two small lagoon islands after high tide but there were more flying around and some already on the beach, so probably over 150:


Not every small wader was a Dunlin. There were several Sanderling around, but none feeding and some were showing spring plumage. A few Ringed Plovers were on the beach and gravel patch at the north of the lagoon.


There were two interesting non-Dunlin peeps on the beach on the eastern side of the river, roosting on the higher gravel halfway to the sea at mid-tide. Both were Dunlin-size and lacking black bellies. The first had a rufous crown and clear light supercilium and the second had a uniform warm brown head and upper chest. I could not see feet, legs, wing bars or rumps, but suspect they were Americans. They apparently disappeared when I looked away. The winds over the last three days have been ideal for bringing in something interesting, so anyone visiting soon should take a big scope. And a very sturdy tripod.