Common Sandpiper at King's Meads

Andy Brown had reported a Whinchat on the fenceline close to the horse paddock and therefore I went down the following day to see if I could locate it for some photographs. Unfortunately there was no sign but at White House Sluice there were a couple of Grey Wagtails which flew off before I could get any shots, but also a Common Sandpiper. This seems to be a little early in the year for returning waders, although there have been a couple of Common Sands at Tyttenhanger recently.

The bird was quite flighty but, most conveniently kept to the New River, settling on the piling and the bridges. The amount of cover made photography difficult but I did eventually  manage to get a couple of shots.