Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)

Sighting Ref :

IB91240

Sighting Date :

20 Sept 16

Common Name :

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Scientific Name :

Calidris pusilla

Location :

Tacumshin

County :

Wexford

Number Seen :

Principal Observer(s) :

Pat King, Eric Dempsey, Brian Bulger, Killian Mullarney, Eamon Larrissey Not Specified

Reported By :

Not Specified

Comments :

There were three Semipalmated Sandpipers at Tacumshin on Tuesday afternoon, the two present on Monday evening and a 'new' bird. It is quite possible, I imagine, that all three have been present since Saturday (or even earlier?) but it has taken a while to collate observations. I have (somewhat arbitrarily) numbered them 1, 2 and 3, #1 being the pale 'buffy' bird with a rather distinct dark crown-stripe, fairly distinct (but thin) white mantle and scapular stripes and perhaps a marginally longer and more decurved bill than the other two; #2 is the greyest of the three, with strong dark scapular centres and bold white tips creating a chequered pattern that is obvious even at long range; #3 is 'a classic' Semip, evenly and delicately 'scaly' across the upperparts and wing coverts, with very typically subdued mantle-/scapular-stripes, and seemingly a little darker overall than #1 (though I never had these two side-by-side). I have not yet managed to get close to #2 but I've had nice scope views, and others (Mark Stewart, Andrew McMillan have posted good photos of it). I hope the attached annotated photos will help us all keep track of what's what, especially if a few more show up here in the coming days! Killian Mullarney

Status :

See IRBC Appendix 2

Photos :