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.

A curious fellow

During the course of a successful late afternoon dash to Cuckoo's Corner on the River Adur, West Sussex to see the tundra bean goose (Anser fabilis) my attention was drawn to some wide ripples mid flow, the cause of which turned out to be a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina).

The seal's curiousity matched our own, and as we moved closer to the bank side, to capture some photos - it proceeded to climb out of the water to check us out for the briefest of moments.

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.