Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Marazion, 1st September

We went over to Marazion Beach this morning in search of the buff-breasted sandpiper that had been reported there the previous day. The sight of hundreds of sanderling, dunlin, ringed plover and several turnstones feeding on the shingle was quite stunning. For a while, however, it seemed as though the buff-breasted had  been disturbed by some walkers. Thankfully it soon returned, landing directly in front of us. It was my first buff-breasted sandpiper, and a truly stunning bird, with the air of an elegant mix between a ruff and golden plover, and strutting around on long bright orange-yellow legs. We watched it for about 15 minutes feeding in the weed in a group of other waders. I also saw my first white wagtail, the European race of our pied wagtail, of autumn feeding on the beach.