An exceedingly rare bird has been identified at Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve at Cley Marshes, attracting hundreds of excited visitors and birdwatchers. The western sandpiper (Calidris mauri) is a first for Norfolk, and one of extremely few to ever be seen in the UK.
The small wader was spotted by Cley resident and NWT member, Mark Golley and initially identified as a semi-palmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla). This in itself would be a rare visitor to NWT Cley Marshes nature reserve and the county, from its usual breeding grounds in North America.
Staff from the NWT Cley Marshes visitor centre said: “After much interest from birdwatchers, scrutiny of photographs taken, and discussions across the Atlantic, the bird was identified as a western sandpiper – a first for Cley Marshes and for Norfolk! The bird remains on the marshes, occasionally flying out to rest on Cricket Marsh but flighting in with Dunlin to feed on the muddy margins on Simmonds Scrape.”
The Visitor Centre opened early over the weekend to cater for the eager arrivals and it is estimated that since the bird was first seen nearly a thousand people, including keener birdwatchers from as far as France and Germany, have come to Cley to see this juvenile wader.
Also at NWT Cley Marshes is a green winged teal – the American version of our teal. It is possibly the only one in Britain at the moment, meaning Cley Marshes is enjoying a very rare American double whammy!
Photo: Western Sandpiper at NWT Cley Marshes. Courtesy of C Chapman - Wildlife Tours and Education