The return of B6WWWW, and an Old Portsmouth diversion

B6WWWW at Southsea Castle

I took an afternoon trip into town to successfully twitch the widely reported black redstarts (Phoenicurus ochruros) which are frequenting the sea buckthorn in Broad Street, Old Portsmouth. Before getting to Broad Street I stopped briefly at Southsea Castle to count the 14 purple sandpipers (Calidris maritime) feeding on the sea defences at low tide.

I was also pleasantly surprised to re-find my old friend the sanderling (Calidris alba) B6WWWW a bird that was originally ringed in Hampshire in 2011 by Pete Potts. I last saw the bird on the 2nd March 2015 since then it has lost the blue tag on its lower right leg.

Patch-birding-southsea-seafront 2nd March 2015

Having said farewell to this frequent flyer, I then headed to Old Portsmouth and spent some time watching the very showy black redstarts, of which three were present.

2017 starts with some local birding

cattle egrets, Warblington, 2nd Jan 2017

snow bunting, Hill Head, 2nd Jan 2017

sanderling, Eastney, 3rd Jan 2017

sanderling B6 RWYB, Eastney 3rd Jan 2017

purple sandpiper and sanderling (probably B6 WWWW),

Southsea Castle 3rd Jan 2017

Patch birding .. Southsea seafront pt. 1

Headed to Southsea Castle to check on the purps (Calidris maritama), as numbers have been reported on the up over the last week, counted eight (thirteen were reported yesterday).

The ringed sanderling (Calidris alba) B6WWWW was also present, and I took a few record shots to pass onto the Farlington Ringing Group. 2 Rock pipits (Anthus pertrosus) were very mobile, although one came within range whilst I quietly sat watching/photographing the sanderling.

Sanderling (Calidris alba L.) at Southsea Castle - including a ringed individual

record shot of ringed sanderling

Updates:

 

22.12.14 The record of the ringed sanderling B6WWWW has been submitted to BTO

03.01.15 I received confirmation that the sanderling was ringed by Peter Potts of the Farlington Ringing Group, on 03.10.11. Over the intervening years, it has been recorded between August and March mainly from sites on Hayling Island, with an occasional sighting on the IOW and Gosport. First reported at Southsea Castle on 29.11.14 it has been seen again on the sea defences up to and including 04.01.15.