Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).
Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).
This Sharp-tailed Sandpiper flew in to join a loose flock of Ringed Plover and Dunlin far out on the mudflats at Carrahane at low tide, but within two or three minutes, took off again to the far side of the estuary, and wasn't relocated in the following two hours or so.
Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).
A beautifully marked and bright juvenile, with strongly rufous cap contrasting with the whitish supercilium, and a warm yellow/buff wash across the mainly unstreaked breast. In terms of character, it looked a little like a cross between a Wood Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper.
Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).
In the sun, the rufous cap and strong facial pattern was particularly striking.
Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).
Sharp-tailed Sandpipers breed north of the Arctic Circle in eastern Siberia (yellow on the map here) and winter in Australasia (blue). Most juveniles however stage in western Alaska and the Probilofs in autumn before launching across the pacific to reach Australasia in one continuous flight. The Carrahane bird is truly on the 'wrong' side of the planet.(map from www.avibirds.com)
Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Carrahane, 7th October 2016 (Michael O'Clery).
The eighth Irish record, the first for Co. Kerry, and the first in Ireland since one in Wexford in August 2011.
