Broad - Billed Sandpiper- Shetland

 This Sandpiper had originally been found by Hugh Harrop on the 8 June at Grutness and then it disappeared for a while. It was relocated at the same spot and then down at Virkie a week or so ago.

The bird was relocated on the morning of our visit and when i arrived I found no one else about. Having seen a flock of Dunlin at the west side the day before I set off to check whether the Sandpiper was with them as the bird does associate with dunlin flocks.

I located the bird at the far end of the Dunlin flock which was feeding along the tide line. Although the tide was coming in slowly the Broad -Billed Sandpiper then tucked its beak in and went to sleep. The whole flock took off as a helicopter passed low overhead but the flock flew around and landed to the south, in better light.

I started a slow approach and the Dunlin seemed happy to keep feeding. The Sandpiper then moved closer and wasn't concerned.

It was good to catch up with this bird,  a new one for me. Normally they would be found nesting in Arctic taiga or Siberia so well off course and seems to like the cooler weather of Shetland.

This is the fifth record for Shetland and the first since 1999. I saw this on Saturday and it's not been seen since.

When i left it three Japanese birders had arrived and although the flock had moved further east they seem to had relocated it.