Dutch Birding volume 27 (2005) no 4

Stilt Sandpiper at Ezumakeeg in May and June-July 2004

On 9-17 May and again from 26 June to 12 July 2004, a Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus stayed at Ezumakeeg, Lauwersmeer, Friesland, the Netherlands. During the first period of its stay, the bird was largely in winter plumage. During the second period, it was largely in summer plumage but it was not in full adult-summer plumage. This indicates that it was probably a first-summer. The bird was not seen during the six weeks between 17 May and 26 June and it is unlikely that it was overlooked in this well-watched area; possibly, it stayed in another, less accessible part of the Lauwersmeer area or migrated north and returned early as a 'failed breeder'. The bird mainly associated with Ruffs Philomachus pugnax.
This is the third record for the Netherlands within just a few years; the first two were on 24 July 1998 and on 22-24 July 2000.

Pierre van der Wielen, Rosmolen 67, 1703 NE Heerhugowaard, Nederland
(pvd.wielenplanet.nl)