Having seen 3 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks alongside the wooden jetty at Aber harbour last Saturday morning - the 17th May - set me wondering as to what is the latest date for them to be seen here before returning to their breeding grounds?
In recent years the 23rd of May (2009) is the latest observation for Aberystwyth - not quite the all time delayed departure of the 26th May - back in 1932! It is of interest to speculate as to what controls their departure times.