With Matt flying back from his Sri Lanka birding trip yesterday he called round this morning to see us. After a while the weather suddenly improved a little so we went down to Tide Mills for a stroll and a chat about his trip. Whilst there we went over to the east Pier where we were surprised to see some Purple Sandpipers sitting on the top. Strangely this was the first time Matt had seen them sitting at the top!! Four were asleep, or at least dozing whilst I spent a few minutes photographing them. There were at least another 5 sitting under the pier as well as a Turnstone running around like a mad thing near the fishermen at the end, looking for any food the fishermen were leaving about.
Sleepy Purple Sandpiper.
Purple Sandpiper.
Turnstone.
Running Turnstone.
Winter turnstones rather different! I love the purple sandpiper, it is such a subtle hint of purple in what is essentially a grey plumage
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