Tringa glareola
The Wood Sandpiper is another wading bird that migrates to South Africa from its northern breeding grounds to escape the harsh cold of winter in those parts. When they’re here, between August and May, they are one of the most numerous waders to be seen and can be expected at almost any freshwater habitat in any province.
Wood Sandpipers are usually encountered singly, in pairs or in small groups and seldom occurs at estuaries, river mouths or along the beach, preferring freshwater marshes, dams and temporary pans with inundated vegetation. They feed mainly on aquatic and terrestrial worms, insects, crustaceans, small frogs and small fish, with seeds of various plants being a minor addition to their diet.
Adults measure about 20cm in length, with a wingspan of ±55cm and a weight of 60-80g.
With a total population estimated at over 3 million, distributed across much of Asia and Europe in the breeding season and migrating to Africa, tropical Asia and Australia during the northern winter, the IUCN lists the Wood Sandpiper as being of least concern.
DeWetsWild 
Ek wens ek kon saam met hulle migreer… dit sal darem lekker wees om so te lewe!😁😁
Nee genade, om vir 6 aande n jaar elke jaar weg te wees van Afrika sal vir my bitter swaar wees…
Maar oom, dis lekker hier by ons ook!
Nie SES MAAAAAAANDE lekker nie, dankie AJ! 😛
Trek af die vlieg tyd… dit maak dit ‘n klein bietjie meer draagbaar… en, ons sal laat jy vroeér hier waai… en later daar vertrek… hoe is dit vir kompromie? 🤔😉
It is so beautifully proportioned for wading, and its markings are lovely too. Indeed it is likely to be a long time till we can go out to see birds like these.
Keep safe during these times.
We’re still fine, thanks Carol, and I hope you are too? Unfortunately few of us are fortunate to have a wetland in the confines of our gardens…
We are also fine thanks Dries and I am glad to hear that you all are too. Imagine having a garden with a wetland! 😄
As always, a very informative post and beautiful shots of this elegant Sandpiper.
Beautiful photographs – just what we need to raise our battered spirits!
That is very kind of you, Anne. Knowing all that the residents of Grahamstown had to endure even before the COVID crisis I can understand that your spirit is feeling rather worse for wear.
Skinny legs and beautiful markings. What’s not to like? 😂
janet
😀
Sounds like you are describing a scene from Baywatch, Janet! Though these legs are a bit (a lot) too skinny for my liking.
What a beautiful wader this is!
The nature centres are (quite understandably) closed to the public given the global situation, so I must be a bit more patient till my first glimpse of this year’s migrating waders and other shore birds. I am very happy to see them through your photos!
Wishing you and your family a lovely weekend.
Thanks very much for the kind words, Takami, and I am holding thumbs with you that the crisis will soon be a thing of the past so that we can recharge our batteries out in beautiful places.
Such a pretty bird, Dries. Happy Easter weekend. 😃
A blessed Easter to you too, Sylvia!
We have a bird named Willet (Tringa semipalmata) very similar to the Wood Sandpiper. Most likely to be cousins. Great shots. 🙂
Thanks H.J. Yes, the different kinds of sandpipers, like many other kinds of wading birds, can look confusingly similar!
Pragtige mooi duidelike fotos. Dankie vir die deel. Hoop jul het n geseënde Paastyd saam.
Ons het dankie Ineke, en ek hoop dieselfde vir jou?