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| Where the heck did this come from? I was looking for wood and other treasures washed up on the beach after last nights gale with ninety mile an hour winds. I noticed that the large stones had all been move to the side exposing a field of small pebbles. I thought to myself I hope it stays this way, as it would be nice to lay on in the summer and the waders would like it and maybe we would get a few more Sanderlings. (funny but true) The beach was a hive of activity and the mass of Trunstones and Purple Sandpipers didn't seem to mind my presence, like I was just another sheep eating seaweed. Walking through the new piles of seaweed over the large stones of the beach I almost literally stumble upon the white wader. A Sandlering! first of the year and not very common in Winter here on Fair Isle. |
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| I then notice the little white rings flicking across the sand... It's Coloured Ringed! I had to get a record shot! I ran (moved faster than normal) home to get my camera. Huff, puff & phew it was still there! The Sanderling had moved to the far end of the beach so I sat on a rock and waited for it to move back towards me while day light fails. I knew if I startled one Turnstone the whole beach would clear and that patience is a virtue. Sure enough it move back so I could get these record shots with my rubbish camera. |
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| Ring Colours - White over Green & White over Red - no Metal ? Very Christmassy! The identification rings looked bright maybe new?  Originally I was confused by this as all the colour ringed Starlings and Wheatears on Fair Isle have a 4 ring system with 1 ring being metal 3 coloured. So I assumed the white ring in shadow was white grey aluminium? after a comments from viewer of this post I looked at this photo more closely with both legs out of shadows and It does not seem to have a metal ID ring in this photo? The ringer's comment below suggest the Sanderling metal ID ring is on the thigh (tibia) totally unseen in photos. plus the bird has lost a green flag ring somewhere over the past 4 years? Originally ringed in Sandgerdi SW Iceland - May 21 2007 here is a link the Sanderling Project. http://www.waderstudygroup.org/res/project/sanderling.php |
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| Sanderling... Where oh where did you come from? With Last nights Storm Who Knows? North America? Siberia? North Ronaldsay? |
If you you have any ideas please leave your comments below or use my contact info:
Cheers! Tommy
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| Purple Sandpipers! more than I have ever seen 25 to 30 of them on the South Harbour Beach. |
