Sandymount strand was chock-a-block with joggers, walkers
and dogs on Sunday morning, but they weren't the only ones taking advantage of
what Sandymount Strand has to offer. As soon as I pulled up, I noticed a flock
of ‘smalls,’ (i.e. unidentified Dunlin-sized waders) pinging around between the
joggers and dogs. A glimpse of some black bellies allowed me to confirm that
they were mostly smart-looking, summer plumaged Dunlin, but there were some
Ringed Plover tagging along too. A quick scan with the scope through the heat
haze produced 109 Oystercatchers distributed in several aggregations and a
flock of 154 Bar-tailed Godwits on the tide line further south, towards
Booterstown Station.
To be honest, I was surprised to see so many waders still
hanging around on the beach. I don’t usually give too much thought to waders
outside the September to March I-WeBS season. I suppose it just goes to show
how important year-round counts are at a site like Dublin Bay.
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| Sunny Sandymount Strand |
The ring-reading conditions were perfect: pleasant
temperature, good sunshine and a backing track of Swallows and Common Terns
chattering and squabbling overhead. I managed to read twelve rings, but there
were 5 or 6 that I just couldn't get....something
‘J’... or was that something ‘I’... No, definitely an ‘L’...but what’s the
first letter? Get out of that puddle and let me see it!
Thanks again to those of you who have been diligently
sending in ring re-sightings. We’re slowly putting this story together, but new
ring readers are always welcome to contribute to this worthwhile research. No
need for flasks or hats or gloves - just grab the scope and the notebook and
get out there!
