Purple Sandpipers at Holland Haven

7th December 2022

It's early December so time for our annual pilgrimage to Holland Haven to see the Purple Sandpipers. By the time we had arrived the tide was almost in and most of the usual feeding areas were already covered, so we set off for a walk from the Boating Club to Holland Gap to see if we could find any roosting. We did manage to find five, but all in inaccessible places, so it was just a matter of waiting for the tide to drop to uncover some of their traditional feeding areas.

However, on our travels we did manage find  a couple of Stonechats which perched up for a couple of shots.

Also along the sea wall was this female Green Woodpecker looking for insects in the short grass, eventually flying off showing that amazing yellow rump.

Now the tide had dropped and a lone Purple Sandpiper flew to the sluice to sift among the seaweed giving some great views down to 8 yards.

What absolutely amazing little birds.