Somerset in early January offered a surprising sight – the least sandpiper, a rare bird that I never expected to see. On a crisp morning, this tiny wading bird darted along the water’s edge, foraging for food with its small bill.
The least sandpiper lives up to its name as the smallest wading bird globally, measuring only 13-15cm and weighing less than 30 grams - lighter than a house sparrow. Its scientific name, minutilla, translates to “very small” in Latin. Standing next to larger birds like dunlins and teals, it appeared minuscule.
Originating from North America, the least sandpipers breed in Alaska and Arctic Canada before migrating south for winter in warmer regions from the US to Brazil. In Britain, they are rare visitors with fewer than 100 sightings recorded mostly during autumn.
This particular bird likely crossed the Atlantic months ago but went unnoticed until sharp-eyed local birdwatchers at Steart Marshes reserve spotted it in early January. As the first documented sighting in Somerset, it drew a crowd of enthusiasts creating an unexpected social gathering at the start of the new year.
2025-01-08 01:00:03
Source from www.theguardian.com