another id needed

Isambard

The closest I've come is Green Sandpiper or Oystercatcher.

it looked too small for an Oystercatcher. The usual Lapwings were beyond it and looked bigger. Outside Mallow.

gzoladz

Deffinitely not an oystercatcher.

Waders are tricky...Redshank?

Isambard

i guess it could but it definitely appeared to be black and white, with the head a little lighter. I didn't expect to see it 40 miles inland.

OpenYourEyes

It's not an Oystercatcher, not one of the Godwits, and looks too 'leggy' for something like Common Sandpiper, so I think either Redshank or Greenshank. Looks a bit dark for Greenshank, but there doesn't appear to be any sort of red or orange colour on the legs. I'm still leaning towards Redshank though.

I'm not overly confident on my Sandpipers so I'd want a better pic before calling a Green Sandpiper.

Isambard

frustratingly had it stayed another few seconds, I would have had a better picture! It was much closer than the birds usually are at this location but saw me and took flight before I could focus properly, fortunately I had snatched this shot.

I'll return today in the hope that it is around again.

It's along way from an estuary!

gzoladz

Going by the shadow I am leaning towards redshank as it doesn't have the slightly pointing upwards bill of the green.

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

It's not an Oystercatcher, not one of the Godwits, and looks too 'leggy' for something like Common Sandpiper, so I think either Redshank or Greenshank. Looks a bit dark for Greenshank, but there doesn't appear to be any sort of red or orange colour on the legs. I'm still leaning towards Redshank though.

I'm not overly confident on my Sandpipers so I'd want a better pic before calling a Green Sandpiper.

stevensi

Hi,

Your bird is a Green Sandpiper. They sometimes overwinter in Ireland. Your description of the bird being almost black and white is a good description how they look (they are in fact dark green but it looks almost black when seen). In flight you might have noticed a white rump as it flew off (and it was probably calling as they do). A nice record especially in January.

Isambard

ah so something uncommon? this is what I was getting at the other day, I don't know what is common and what isn't and I need to learn

Oh and I'm delighted that my favourite for the id proved to be the case....

Thanks