Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Blonde Ruiter

Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Blonde Ruiter

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Blonde Ruiter

Tringytes subruficollis

Pictures: Teus Luijendijk

September 2000, Dintelhaven ZH

May 2001, Ezumakeech Fr

July/August 2001, Prunjepolder Ze

October 2003, Prunjepolder Ze

September 2006, Sint Maartensvlotbrug NH

September 2000, Dintelhaven ZH

Much better pictures of this bird were taken later, but the ones shown below were shot just shortly after the discovery. This bird was found by a birder looking in a remote area of the Rotterdam harbour area for a reported juvenile Dotterel Charadrius morinellus. This had been on and off for a while, so one can only imagine his surprise when he not only got views of the Dotterel, but also of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper accompanying it! As many birders were out on this Sunday afternoon looking for migrants on the nearby Maasvlakte, it rapidly received a lot of attention. It favoured the company of not only the Dotterel, but also that of 3 European Golden Plovers. Although it was rather flighty every now and then, it stayed for several days, to the delight of many visiting birders.



Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Blonde Ruiter Tringytes subruficollis juvenile; videograbs (320x), contrast slightly enhanced. Dintelhaven ZH, The Netherlands, 24 September 2000.

May 2001, Ezumakeech Fr

A spring bird was reported in the Lauwersmeer area, in the North of my country. I happened to be in the vicinity, so I rushed to the spot to see if it would allow any digiscoping. It turned out to be a very wary bird, which foraged in an inaccessible meadow quite far off. Despite the sunny conditions, I made the following grabs:



Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Blonde Ruiter Tringytes subruficollis adult; videograbs (320x), contrast slightly enhanced. Ezumakeech Fr, The Netherlands, 12 May 2001.

July/August 2001, Prunjepolder Ze

Also a lot more difficult to take pictures of, proved a Buff-breasted Sandpiper present in the newly developed Prunjepolder, a marshy area that used to be (and still is) a major wintering area for all kinds geese. Nowadays, this nature reserve has undergone a metamorphosis into a very wader-friendly area, with rough meadows interspersed with creeks. The very same area held a Long-billed Dowitcher last spring.
This time the bird foraged in the grass rather distantly from the usual observation points. Only now and then it would appear just a little nearer. During one of those occasions I made the following videograbs:


Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Blonde Ruiter Tringytes subruficollis adult; videograbs (320x), contrast slightly enhanced. Prunjepolder Ze, The Netherlands, 4 August 2001.

October 2003, Prunjepolder Ze

Incredibly, another bird (now a juvenile) popped up at exactly the same location as the previous individual. This one, however, allowed somewhat closer views as it favoured a meadow closer to the main road.



Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Blonde Ruiter Tringytes subruficollis juvenile; videograbs (320x), contrast enhanced. Prunjepolder Ze, The Netherlands, 3 October 2003.

September 2006, Sint Maartensvlotbrug NH

And again a juvenile, now on one of the inundated bulb fields in Northern Holland.




Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Blonde Ruiter Tringytes subruficollis juvenile; videograbs (320x), contrast enhanced. Sint Maartensvlotbrug NH, The Netherlands, 24 September 2006.