Purple Sandpiper

A walk about the beach at Churchill Barrier #4. It is funny how empty the beach can seem until you get looking properly. There was a mix of about 130 small waders on the water's edge- purple sandpipers, ringed plover, sanderlings. Very hard to count accurately so probably more than 130. Seven snow buntings kept their distance and I did not try and get close. I caught the bus along to Ayre Loch by St Mary's village because an American wigeon has been there for a few days. A WhatsAp page said that it had flown but I thought I'd check- no luck, but 6 whooper swans, gadwall, long-tailed ducks, a pair of little grebe, red-breasted mergansers, wigeon, tufted duck, goldeneye, mallard, so not empty! Extra of a distant view of Copinsay and geese.