First twitch of the year

The new year's twitching has got off to a mixed start with a trip south to Culburra Beach near Nowra successfully turning up the White-rumped Sandpiper #452 that has been hanging out down there for the last couple of weeks. Another vagrant over from the Americas, this is apparently the first Australian record for 20 years. Luckily a fellow twitcher was already there looking at it when we arrived as I don't think I'd have spotted it on my own. Drab non-breeding waders are not easy for me to differentiate especially with my eyesight now unable to really pick out fine detail. I was pretty pleased with the situation until we got home and I read that there were a number of other ticks wandering about on the beach that I could have picked up. Broad-billed Sandpiper, Red Knot, Fairy Tern and White-winged Black Tern were another 4 potential additions to the list that I completely overlooked. I'll probably head back next weekend as it's a nice part of the world and I now know exactly what I'm looking out for.