Western sandpiper, first ever in the Netherlands

On 15 August, for the first time ever, a western sandpiper was seen in the Netherlands.

This species nests in Alaska. Usually, they migrate to Mexico.

Now, however, a bird that had flown all the way across the Atlantic Ocean landed near Westhoek village in Dutch Friesland province. It attracted hundreds of birdwatchers.

The Alaskan vagrant sandpiper is there in the company of hundreds of sandpipers of other species; like the dunlin in the background of the photo.