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LEAST SANDPIPER - almost all to myself

Discussion

8 replies
Posted by A.R.D on October 14, 2007 at 5:35 PM
Hello.

No time for frivolities as I'm on the worst internet connection in the world at my holiday cottage on the Isle of Harris.

My wife found this by our car as we came back from a walk around the lighthouse at Butt of Lewis on Friday. No one else saw it unfortunately.

I believe it to be a Least Sandpiper - a first for the Hebrides. Approx 1 found each year for the U.K?

Poor light so ISO800

I've got more pic's but only managed time to process this one on the laptop so far.

Bird seemed tired as I was able to get within arms length of it while it snoozed periodically.

Worlds smallest shorebird apparently. Should be wintering in South America?

EXIF

Canon 40D / EF300mm F/2.8
ISO 800
F/4.5
1/200 sec
EV Comp +1/3

RAW in DPP and PP in CS2

Posted by jack chapman on October 14, 2007 at 5:41 PM
lovely shot, pretty impressive to just stumble across a first bird ever to a whole region
Posted by Paul Thomas on October 14, 2007 at 6:14 PM
Can't help with the ID but a cracking shot whatever it is.

:toast:

Paul
Posted by Mike Smith on October 15, 2007 at 1:27 AM
Waders are not my best area, it has the right coloured legs - straw, but the primary wing projection looks a bit long for least sandpiper per my book - but I am no expert on these mega rarities, - other alternatives are long toed stint or temminck's stint

The uber experts should be able to confirm, you may be invaded soon if it is either LTS or LS!
Posted by Brian McGeough on October 15, 2007 at 3:49 AM
:toast: :toast: :toast: Well done to you and your wife.

Cheers
Brian
Posted by PhilH on October 15, 2007 at 4:08 AM
:toast: :wavey: :toast: well seen Mrs. A.R.D.

:wavey:
Posted by Alan Woolnough on October 15, 2007 at 7:17 AM
Nicely done A.R.D., and what a thrill :toast:

Alan
Posted by Phillip Tomkinson on October 15, 2007 at 11:06 AM
[I believe it to be a Least Sandpiper] Well it does look like one sub adult possibly as it seems to have a lot of white on the covert/primaries I think the full adult in breeding plumage has less white on these but it has been a long time since I have seen one.

Phillip.

Ps a very nice record shot.

:toast: :toast: :toast: :wavey:
Posted by Craig Nash on October 15, 2007 at 2:51 PM
I think it is probably a Least Sandpiper I put it to discussion on Birdforum and the consensus says it is. Lucky you I go out birding most days and hope to find something like this but never have yet!!!!! Link to Birdforum
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=98924 Yet again Well done.