Not a Southsea Castle Purp!

Quite possibly the most photographed knot (Calidris canutus) of the year? This confiding bird was first reported at Southsea Castle on the 1st December and thereafter until the 7th December. Various reports had it loosely associating with the winter flock of purple sandpiper (Calidris maritama) - numbering up to 15 individuals - over the same period. It was also reported to be regularly feeding in the companionship of a sanderling (Calidris alba).

When we arrived on Sunday afternoon in grey winter light, the knot and sanderling were feeding together on the foreshore revetments - the latter was less confiding and flew on past, but the knot continued to forage, passing by me down to a couple of metres.