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despite all the disturbance we found six purple
sandpipers on the sea wall near the outfall.
We stayed some distance away watching through
scopes and binoculars. A family was walking
along the top of the sea wall towards them.
As they approached we hurriedly took our last
looks before they flew off. But no, the
family walked within a yard of the birds and
they didn't even look up. I knew they were
said to be tame, but this was incredible.
This made me want to know more about this
strange little wader.
The purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima) is a
small wader darker and larger than a dunlin.
It is a passage migrant and winter visitor
usually occurring on coasts between mid-July to
November and March to early June. It breeds
mainly in the Arctic. In winter it favours
rocky or boulder strewn shores and is
frequently found around piers, groynes and
other masonry constructions such as at Holland
Haven. It feeds on small fish, insects,
crustacea, molluscs and vegetable matter. And
at Holland Haven it can be seen foraging in the
seaweed. It can swim on the water if swept
off its feet by waves and has been known to
land on the water voluntarily. For those of
us who like to see new species there can be no
easier "tick" than these lovely tame waders.
Although they do turn up at several localities
in the south of the county including Southend
Pier, it appears that Dovercourt and Holland
Haven are the best winter sites to guarantee a
successful journey.
ADRIAN VERNON