A Buff Breasted Sandpiper on Shetland 21st September 2026

Its been a long while since I saw a Buff breasted Sandpiper, so shortly after the commencement of my annual four week's of birding on Shetland, news came of one that had arrived the day before at  Eshaness on the west coast of North Mavine on the island of Mainland. Eshaness is an isolated promontory of volcanic rock, the remnant of a stratovolcano that erupted over 300 million years ago  and is now a well known tourist spot.. The bird then disappeared later that day and it looked like it had gone but next day it returned so mid morning found us leaving our rented house in Scalloway to make an hour's drive north to Eshaness.

For the most part we had the roads to ourselves with mile after mile of empty grey tarmac snaking ahead of us through desolate moorland that became even more remote and with a distinct sense of abandonment after we turned off the main road onto a single track road undulating into a hinterland of moorland interspersed with boggy pools and the occasional Whooper Swan gracing one or more of them, whilst Lapwings sought an existence on the sparse grass verges at the roadside 

You are rarely out of the wind on Shetland, an almost constant presence in various strengths and so it was today with a strong gusting southwest wind and occasional rain showers to add to the discomfort but typical for this time of year.We followed the signs for the lighthouse and rising up from a fold in the land arrived onto a wide grassy plateau and there was the lighthouse, still operational but remotely controlled, classically positioned near the spectacular cliffs, guarding the coastline.

The sandpiper was meant to be on a small freshwater pool across the grass plateau to the east and within sight of the lighthouse, thus only requiring a short walk to get to. 

The wind tugged and nagged at my clothes as it always does and particularly here on our elevated and exposed position as we walked over the short turf from the small car park. It was wild and stormy with a huge ,wind tossed sea pounding the nearby black volcanic cliffs leaving great scars of white water foaming below. A far cry from my home in the Cotswolds and dare I say it far more exhilerating

But we had other matters on our minds and other priorities, namely a rare North American wader frequenting a small pool of freshwater only a few hundred metres away.Two silhouettes came into view at the water's edge. Waders, one smaller than the other.

That must be it.The smaller one surely?

Checking through our bins we were disappointed to find a Knot and a Dunlin. Our confidence in a successful outcome took a nose dive

How  come? Surely there was some mistake? This  was definitely the pool where the Buff breasted  Sandpiper was virtually ever present according to earlier reports

We split up and went in search of the missing bird, crossing a windswept expanse of short turf sloping down to the cliffs checking other larger pools but could not find it and so we ventured back to the original pool but still there was no sign.Chatting with a couple of equally disappointed local birders we learnt of a Glossy Ibis and a Grey Plover nearby. Both good birds for Shetland.

Cutting our losses we drove back along the single track road to view first a flock of Golden Plover harbouring the Grey Plover, a simple task which was totally successful. This achieved we drove a little further to a small flash of marshy water adjacent to the road and came across the angular profile of the Glossy Ibis flying around but soon settling back in the water to feed 

Buoyed by this success we returned to the lighthouse and the nearby pool.Well you never know and as we hoped might happen there was the familiar shape of the Buff breasted Sandpiper strutting its stuff around the pool and across the surrounding short grass. As with many of its kind it was very confiding, at times walking to within feet of me and I made the most of it with my camera taking far too many images but endeavouring to cover the little beauty from all angles.

For the most part it was endlessly active picking morsels from the grass but would occasionally stop and relax, standing still and quiet for short periods before resuming its search for food.When alarmed or unsure it would stand upright unmoving with head and neck extended and remain like this until re-assured all was well

Buff breasted Sandpipers are a regular but scarce migrant to Great Britain, chiefly in September and sometimes arriving in small groups.They breed in the arctic regions of North America and migrate to the pampas of South America for the winter.This autumn has seen a good number arriving in Great Britain along with another North American wader, Baird's Sandpiper, due to the strong westerlywinds we have been experiencing

An hour later it was job done and we headed south leaving thesplendoursof Eshaness with some regret on my part