Purple Sandpipers at Portishead

Saturday 19th December 2009

I took a trip to Portishead with Mark this morning, specifically to look for a particular wader which frequents the coast here in winter. We found four of them, Purple Sandpipers, on Battery Rocks over the high tide (photos above and below). It was nice to get such good views of these attractive birds. Other birds noted were nine Shelducks, three Redshanks, four Curlew, a Rock Pipit, a Meadow Pipit and c10 Knot.

Later we tried Dudbridge, Stroud, for Ring-necked Parakeets and despite hearing some calls could not locate the birds. Bonus bird of the day though was a female/immature Merlin which flew low over the M5 at junction 13 towards the A38, a welcome county year tick.

Comments

Duck or goose said…
I can you see this picture and tell what this bird is. Is it a comb duck?
20 December 2009 at 12:00
Ana-Maria said…
merry christmas!nice blog.
25 December 2009 at 16:30
Paul said…
Thanks for your comment Ana-Maria, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
31 December 2009 at 10:38
Paul said…
Duck or goose?: Well they are definitely ducks, but they are not wild - some sort of domestic variety.
31 December 2009 at 10:48
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