19 November - A good day in the end, I set off initially to see the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Blagdon, which was reported gone, then headed for the Desert Wheatear near Paignton. The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was then refound at neighbouring Chew Valley Lake later in the morning...
The Desert Wheatear was a smart male and quite confiding around the coastguard buildings at Man Sands, a National Trust valley (Photos 3-6, JM). Also present, a Black Redstart and 10+ Snipe with 20+ Teal on the marshy stream.
A brief stop at Broadsands car park produced a female Cirl Bunting feeding on the seeded area. A male has also been around.
I headed straight back to CVL (7-9) and had excellent views of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in the afternoon sun - noticeably larger than the accompanying Dunlins with rufous crown, buff chest, short decurved bill and scaly upperparts indicating a juvenile. My second ever in the UK. Also at Chew - 2 (!) Long-billed Dowitchers, a Semi-palmated Sandpiper (thought at the time to be a Little Stint) and 3 Bewick's Swans, and a Cetti's Warbler was heard.
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