On the 24/10/99 the Pectoral Sandpiper was still present at Mason Park in
Concord West in Sydney giving uncharacteristically excellent views for a
wader as it foraged out on the grass in the open less than 20 metres from
me. I watched for a total of an hour and a half and had to leave when it
started to rain. The use of binoculars was not warranted at all to identify
the bird and see all necessary features as the bird was so close, like
watching a willie wagtail on a playing field.
Views through a telescope were unbeleivable allowing close observation of
all features including some chestnut on the rear of the crown of this adult
bird - something I have not seen mentioned in any book. Also the upper rump
and back had a wider area of black than on the lower rump and tail, this is
not depicted in some good quality books that I have looked through. I have
never had such a good view of any wader at all before this, and it was lucky
that Sunday turned out to be a nice day after such a pour down on the day
before.
As I left the site I saw 62 Curlew Sandpipers and 7 (mostly if not all
juvenile) Sharp Tailed Sandpipers fly into the canal of Powells Creek as low
tide was beginning, I could not spend much time watching the birds due to
the rain and so I am a little unertain as to how many of the Sharpies were
juveniles.
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