Purple Sandpipers are so named due to the purplish iridescence on feathers on the mantle, though this is extremely difficult to see in the field. Below, a nice photo showing this effect on the mantle feathers of a roosting bird.
Click on the images for a closer view
Purple Sandpiper, Rough Point, 16th January 2015 (M.O'Clery).
Purple Sandpiper, Rough Point, 16th January 2015 (M.O'Clery).
Purple Sandpipers, Rough Point, 16th January 2015 (M.O'Clery).
It used to be thought that Purple Sandpipers wintering in Ireland originated from the Icelandic breeding population, but it turns out they are from very much further away. Icelandic birds do indeed make landfall in Ireland each autumn, but continue on further south. The wintering birds, such as the 96 at Rough Point this afternoon, have flown from Arctic Canada. These birds have crossed the Atlantic on wing-power alone, and will do so again on their return migration in April or May.
