As I mentioned in my last blog, the poor weather is always good for a visit to the estuary as it usually brings to a halt bird migration - heavy rain in particular usually pays dividends as the birds drop in for a rest and a feed until better weather prevails! Thus the prolonged wet spell on 27th sent birders to the estuary the following morning and a wealth of species were discovered of which 3 North American Pectoral Sandpipers were the highlight. Other waders included 4 Common Sandpipers, 112 Curlew, 5 Whimbrel, 27 Oystercatcher, 16 Redshank, 6 Turnstone, 66 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and a Ruff.
See this link for photos of the Pectoral Sandpipers:
http://www.cornwall-birding.co.uk/
Site Manager, Cornwall reserves