Yesterday morning our friend Lorenzo posted on the EBN Italy mailing list his sighting of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper near Piombino on the Tuscan Coast.
Unfortunately we couldn't make it yesterday so we decided to try our luck VERY early on Sunday morning, as the bird was still showing well on Saturday evening.
We set off on a dark, blustery morning at 5am, with massive thunderstorms to the west, exactly where we were heading. We got there just before 7am, and it was still pretty dark and quiet, with the thunderstorm receding southwards. We could hear gunshots not far away as it was the first day of the hunting season :-C and we kept our fingers crossed the they wouldn't get too close. Massimo, Lorenzo and Stefano joined us after 10 minutes or so and soon it was light enough to see a Purple Heron in front of us and a few waders at the far end of the pools. A couple of Commons Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Stint and lovely in the early morning light: a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper! Many other birders joined the group and we spent a lovely morning as the bird edged gradually closer, letting us enjoy fantastic views.
We drove back around lunchtime and stopped for a while at Monte Labbro, part of our local patch, seeing at least 4 Red Kites, an Hobby, Black Redstarts, a Wheatear, and the ubiquitous Stonechats.
When we got home we heard news of a Sabine's Gull near Trento, in the North-east of Italy, unfortunately too far for us on a Sunday night. Next time!
Fingers crossed for more American strays!
Unfortunately we couldn't make it yesterday so we decided to try our luck VERY early on Sunday morning, as the bird was still showing well on Saturday evening.
We set off on a dark, blustery morning at 5am, with massive thunderstorms to the west, exactly where we were heading. We got there just before 7am, and it was still pretty dark and quiet, with the thunderstorm receding southwards. We could hear gunshots not far away as it was the first day of the hunting season :-C and we kept our fingers crossed the they wouldn't get too close. Massimo, Lorenzo and Stefano joined us after 10 minutes or so and soon it was light enough to see a Purple Heron in front of us and a few waders at the far end of the pools. A couple of Commons Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, a Little Stint and lovely in the early morning light: a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper! Many other birders joined the group and we spent a lovely morning as the bird edged gradually closer, letting us enjoy fantastic views.
We drove back around lunchtime and stopped for a while at Monte Labbro, part of our local patch, seeing at least 4 Red Kites, an Hobby, Black Redstarts, a Wheatear, and the ubiquitous Stonechats.
When we got home we heard news of a Sabine's Gull near Trento, in the North-east of Italy, unfortunately too far for us on a Sunday night. Next time!
Fingers crossed for more American strays!
