Wader Query

PeterD · #1 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 06:09 PM

I thought this was a Little Stint but the leg colouring and head marking are wrong. Physically, it is about 2/3 the size of the Redshank.

Cheers

Peter

natureguy · #2 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 06:15 PM

Hi peter possibly a common sandpiper but I'm usually wrong with waders.

GuyF · #3 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natureguy

Hi peter possibly a common sandpiper but I'm usually wrong with waders.

I agree, it's a Common Sandpiper. Very few of these over winter in Britain each year, so it's a nice find.
Guy

PeterD · #4 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyF

I agree, it's a Common Sandpiper. Very few of these over winter in Britain each year, so it's a nice find.
Guy

Thanks Natureguy and Guy. Looking in the guides that I use I too agree. When I came across it today, it was in the company of a Redshank but was looking pretty miserable and not feeding. I hope it is OK as it was very cold last night (and again tonight). It probably wishes it had flown off with the others to Africa for the winter.

Peter

PS I have some better shots and will post one in the Gallery.

Lin Murray · #5 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 06:40 PM

Hi Peter

Where abouts is the picture taken? Also Common Sands have a very distinctive bobbing up and down of the tail area (tail pumping)which they repeat very regularly, did you notice any of this behaivour?

cheers

Lin

PeterD · #6 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lin Murray

Hi Peter

Where abouts is the picture taken? Also Common Sands have a very distinctive bobbing up and down of the tail area (tail pumping)which they repeat very regularly, did you notice any of this behaivour?

cheers

Lin

Hi Lin,

Seen this morning at Hermitage Stream, Langstone Harbour. It was very cold down here last night and although the tide was still out, this bird was not feeding (unlike a Redshank nearby). Hopefully it would have started to feed as the day warmed up. Little activity from the bird so I did not notice any tail thumping.
Peter

diggleken · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 07:19 PM

Common Sandpiper for me.
Ken

PeterD · #8 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 07:25 PM

Thanks Ken - it seems we are unamimous.

Peter

Green Man · #9 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 07:45 PM

hi -common sandpiper for me too. I was under the impression that common sands were resident and its the wood sands and green sands that are passage/migratory birds. see never too old to learn - thanks GuyF