Common Sandpiper - passing through

Andy M spotted a pair of Common Sandpiper yesterday. He was watching the pair of Canada Geese with their three goslings on the GP lake, when two small waders flew in low and fast across the water, settling out of sight on the near bank. Andy back-tracked around the lake a little to get a better view, but the birds were rather nervy and flew to a perch on the opposite side, from where Andy was able to get some (rather distant) photos. Soon afterwards the birds were off and on their way again.

Common Sandpiper are largely summer visitors to the UK, breeding in Wales and northern Britain, although some birds also winter around the south and east coast. Consequently, they are not common in East Anglia, and tend to be seen only on migration between Africa and Scandinavia - as was presumably the case for the pair Andy saw.  They have plain olive-brown upper parts, with a pale stripe over the eye, white underparts, and a characteristic white 'hook' just in front of the shoulder. In flight, a white wingbar, white on the underwings, and a dark central rump and tail are also typical.

 Common Sandpiper - showing white wingbar and dark centre to tail and rump

 Common Sandpiper - showing white underwing, with darker trailing edge

 Common Sandpiper - note the white shoulder 'notch', and pale eye-stripe

Common Sandpiper

 Common Sandpiper