Sandpiper, Cheltenham (1 Viewer)

[Mike Beer]

Hello can I have a ID of this bird please, photographed this morning at Pittville Lake, Cheltenham. The bird was a long way off across the lake and well hidden. In flight the bird had a distinct white bar across the top of its tail feathers. I think it could be a Wood Sandpiper but not sure.

 

[Essex Tern]

Common for me, quite dumpy and note the white armpit.

 

[ekopa]

Common Sandpiper

 

[Mike Beer]

OK thank you

Mike.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Mike,
your bird is a Comon Sandpiper.
Please note streaked breast sides in the right shape with white central breast (patches doesnt meet), the right dark pasttern to the upperparts without pale (whitish) spots to the upperparts.

Edit: sorry, to late

 

[Mike Beer]

Thank you. Do Common Sandpipers have a distinct white bar across the top of the tail feathers in flight, I have no picture of the birds flying, I saw two.

Mike.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Mike,
no, then the flying birds migt have been similar sized Wood or Green Sandpipers. Both have white rumps, while Common Sandpiper has mostly dark rump and tail with white (barred) outer tail feathers, which can be distinct when tail is spred (Common Sandpiper do this regular in flight)

 

[Essex Tern]

My initial thought was maybe you saw a Green as well, but the photographed bird is a Common.

Green Sandpipers do on occasion seem to be masters at skulking in waterside vegetation, dips and ditches, preferring less open habitat than the Wood Sandpipers I have seen, which I think favour more open pools and scrapes. A Green Sandpiper should give a more contrasty overall plumage than Wood.

 

[Mike Beer]

Thank you, I had already come to the conclusion that maybe the birds I saw flying was not the Common Sandpiper I photographed. Gives me something to do tomorrow.

Mike.