Another North American vagrant at the saltpans

White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

The saltpans at Fuencaliente recently attracted yet another North American migrant: following the Semi-palmated (Calidris pusilla) and Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) of two previous posts, on the evening of Oct 21 I discovered a solitary White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis), feeding together with 3 Sanderlings (Calidris alba).

The island of La Palma actually holds the Spanish record for the largest single influx of this particular Nearctic wader, with 6 birds in Las Martelas on Oct 10 2005, 9 individuals at the Fuencaliente saltpans, and 4 at the seawater pools near the airport on the same date! (Ardeola, 54/2)

Note the wing tips projecting beyond the tail

Body size is somewhat smaller than the two Sanderlings shown above, and much more elongated in appearance.

The pale brown colouring on the underside of the bill, and the white rump which gives the species its name, can be clearly appreciated above and below, respectively.

This record will be submitted to the Spanish Rarities Committee in due course.

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