Rare shorebird visitor to North Promenade groyne put in peril by carelessly-discarded fishing line

It is well-camouflaged but the tiny sandpiper (about the size of a starling) - and the fishing line - can clearly be seen

A STRETCH of fishing line thoughtlessly discarded by an angler put a rare shorebird at risk off the North Promenade in Cleethorpes this week.

Purple sandpipers breed in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions in summer, but they migrate south in winter.

In most years in Cleethorpes, one or two (or occasionally three) can sometimes be seen, when the tide is high,  pecking for insect prey on the wooden groynes, especially those north of the pier.

The well-camouflaged bird pictured above was hopping about, perilously close to fishing line. One hop in the wrong direction could have seen one or both legs being snagged - with unhappy consequences.

But the sandpiper avoided mishap and later flew to another groyne  to continue its quest for food

The fishing line has since been removed and disposed of in a safe place.

                              

The fishing line has now been removed and safely disposed of