White-rumped Sandpiper

 Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

A morning visit to the irrigation ponds in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane) produced an interesting discovery.

There had recently been a Little Stint (Calidris minuta) together with a solitary Dunlin (Calidris alpina) in one of the ponds, and this morning there were initially two waders present also. But by comparing the relative sizes of the two birds it was immediately obvious that the Little Stint (C. minuta) had gone, and its place had now been taken by a vagrant White-rumped Sandpiper (C. fuscicollis).

I only had my Fuji bridge camera with me at the time, and the birds were moving non-stop as they foraged on the dry areas near the water's edge, so the resulting pictures are poor quality. I have included the first photo above, in which the two Calidris sandpipers can be compared.

 Dunlin (C. alpina)  + 2 x White-rumped Sandpiper (C. fuscicollis)

I returned to the pond in the early evening with my full photographic kit, unfortunately with light that was already fading. The surprise this time was that there was not just one, but two fuscicollis along with the solitary alpina!

 2 x White-rumped Sandpiper (C. fuscicollis)

Despite the mediocre images, most of the key field marks can be appreciated: the extremely long primary projection, the white rump visible between the folded wings, the brownish lower mandible, and the conspicuous pale supercillium.

 One of the two White-rumped Sandpipers (C. fuscicollis)

Dunlin (C. alpina) + 2 x White-rumped Sandpiper (C. fuscicollis)

This is my 8th record (11 ind) of White-rumped Sandpiper (C. fuscicollis) on La Palma, and the 2nd this year. See Oct 20 post for details of the previous 2017 record at the saltpans in Fuencaliente.

Details of this sighting will be submitted to the Spanish Rarities Committee in due course.