I counted nine at the peak on the local reservoir. An easterly element in the wind and a passage of Common Sandpipers filled the air with the rapid staccato of swee swee swee swee swuu’s. Charming little chaps.
One disappointment about the cold spring was the rather poor wader passage. The local reservoir on the hill here at Northrepps usually has visiting Common Sandpipers. In June 2012 it played host to a party of fourteen on one day. This year it didn’t have any. We did however have our fill of this wonderful small wader on its breeding grounds in Scotland. Lets hope the autumn passage will be better.