10th December 2009 – Baird’s Sandpiper in East Lothian

Posted by admin on Dec 10, 2009

Amazingly there was a Baird’s Sandpiper being reported in East Lothian. Photographs of this bird viewed on various birding websites suggested that this bird was very confiding.

I was chatting to Chris a few weeks ago and we both commented that it would be nice to have an accessible Baird’s Sandpiper within reasonable travelling distance. I for one had not seen this species since one in Northumberland in 2005 and Chris had not seen one since once in Lothian in 2003.

So when news of the bird at Whitesands Bay near Barns Ness continued; we were both very keen to try and see the bird.

So, Chris arrived at my house at very reasonable 0700hrs we were soon on our way northwards! Due to a very sleepless night brought on by my beautiful six week old daughter (Thea) caffeine was certainly the first priority of the day! Abington services provided this and were soon back on our way with caffeine racing through our veins! Of course having a large latte meant before we got to Whitesands Bay I needed a brief stop at another services for a comfort break!

Just after 10:00hrs we arrived at Whitesands Bay; this was a very pleasant secluded bay situated between Barns Ness and the Cement Works to the south of Dunbar.

Once we arrived at the north end of the bay we began scanning through the waders feeding on the shoreline. Another birder present informed that he had so far failed to locate the Baird’s Sandpiper. We continued scanning through the groups of Sanderling and Dunlin, hoping to pick out the nearctic wader! It was not looking very promising; however with Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Rock Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Red-breasted Merganser present there were plenty of birds to keep us entertained!

I decided to walk south along the outer edge of the bay to check the shoreline further away. I birder sat in his car informed me that he was watching abird that he thought was the Baird’s Sandpiper. After he gave me some directions I was soon watching the bird, and it was indeed the Baird’s Sandpiper. I alerted Chris and the other birder and we were soon enjoying views of this distinctive wader as it fed on its own on the waters edge.

The bird was a bit too far away to allow any serious photography attempts. but views through the ‘scope were very good. After an all too short period of time a Sparrowhawk flew along the shoreline and flushed all the waders including the sandpiper. Despite meticulous searching over the following couple of hours we could not locate the bird.

Chris decided to return to his car briefly to pick up his lunch, whilst I stayed on the beach. It was only a short time before I located the Baird’s Sandpiper feeding along the shoreline. I promptly called Chris to alert him and he was soon on his way. However things did not look good when a Peregrine flew over flushing most of the waders. Amazingly the Baird’s Sandpiper had not flown and was still crouching low on the beach.

Just as I could see Chris arriving to the south, the sandpiper flew up the beach and landed near the upper tideline. I moved up to the footpath and soon located the Baird’s Sandpiper feeding less than ten feet away on the upper beach. Chris arrived and he was quickly also enjoying amazing views of this superb wader.

As well as being able to see every detail of this superb bird, we also had ample opportunity to photograph it.