Golden Plover, Golden Plover, Buff-Breasted Sandpiper,Golden Plover, Dotterel!!!!!!!

27/08/05 Snettisham RSPB Leaders: Matthew.

On a day at Holme NOA we decided to go and leave to see the Buff - Breasted Sandpiper at Snettisham...
After the long walk to the Rotary Hide we stopped and looked over the flats to find 200+ Golden Plover and 100+ Knot, and the only mobile bird in the flock the Buff - Breasted Sandpiper! It regularly disappeared in a ditch for even more fun! It didn't show exeptionally well though reasonably close in good light.
While walking back we spotted 2 Curlew Sandpipers when...we heard a strange call...a bit like a Redshank exept lower and more tuneful...then 2 juvenile Dotterel flew down on the beach in front of us and showed superbly, close and in good light, they even went up on the path!
Other birds at Holme included Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Knot, Sanderling,Turnstone, Ruddy Duck and Common Scoter.
Overall an exelent day.