Is this a Sandpiper of some type?

[Jeeps]

The possible shortness of its' legs are foxing me! Seen about 2.00 pm ontop of a telegraph pole in the far north of Scotland. Apologies for the quality of the pic, it was taken at a distance, through a window.

It's maybe a little bigger than a starling or blackbird. My husband says he saw it or another one on the ground in the garden the other day and thought it looked in distress.

[aeshna5]

No, it's a Common Snipe; at least it is a wader!

[Jeeps]

Thanks for that! It'll be the legs that give it away then? I couldn't find anything so short when looking to identify it myself. I don't think I've ever seen one in this area. We are a couple of miles from a river and about 4 miles from the sea. There are ditches and ponds close by.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Jeeps

Thanks for that! It'll be the legs that give it away then? I couldn't find anything so short when looking to identify it myself. I don't think I've ever seen one in this area. We are a couple of miles from a river and about 4 miles from the sea. There are ditches and ponds close by.

The general size + shape with that long straight bill + the cryptic plumage pattern. It's a common, widespread bird in winter (much scarcer + greatly declined as a breeding bird) + in difficult times as we've experienced over the last few weeks Snipe will appear more in the open + places such as gardens where they may not normally occur.

One day get yourself to an area where Snipe breed + watch them drumming- a real experience!

[Hobjob]

Agree common snipe

But the bill looks shorter than they can do, because it is pointing away a bit.

[Jeeps]

Thanks Hobjob.