White-rumped Sandpiper

 White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

The White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) is a long-distance migrant which breeds in NE Alaska and N Canada east to S Baffin Island. It winters in SE South America from CE Brazil to Tierra del Fuego. With a total of around 40 records, this species is the second most-detected Nearctic vagrant to the Canary Islands (after the Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos).

The bulk of records have been between September and November, peaking in October. A spectacular influx (by Canary Island standards) was recorded in October 2005, when more than 50 birds were found on almost all of the islands (nine birds together on La Palma). [Rare Birds of the Canary Islands, Eduardo García-del-Rey and Francisco Javier García Vargas, Lynx Edicions, June 2013].

 White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

The present bird was found at the saltpans at Las Salinas (Fuencaliente) this morning, Oct 20.
It was foraging by frenetically picking insects from the water surface, hardly stopping to rest.

 White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

In the above image, the white upper tail coverts can just be seen between the bird's slightly parted wings, Also, note the overall elongated body shape and very long primary projection, with wing tips reaching beyond the tail.

 White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

The pale brown lower mandible is also clearly visible in the present series of photos.

 White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

This is my 7th record/9th individual of White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) on La Palma, my last one dating back to October 2014.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

The present sighting will be forwarded to the Spanish Rarities Committee in due course.