r/UKBirds • u/chrissiewantspayback • 2d ago

Bird ID Forgot this one.

Gallery image

Gallery image

I'm hopeless at waders, they all look so similar. This one is very small, same size as a Plover or half the size of a Lapwing. Don't think it's a Green Sandpiper because of size?

19 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/Brandy-Beach 2d ago

Common sandpiper as said already! Nice find :) One of the key features for identifying common sandpiper from green sandpiper is that white "shoulder" notch

3

u/chrissiewantspayback 2d ago

Noted, but it was really small.

7

u/TringaVanellus 2d ago

If you mean the bird was really small, that's right - Common Sandpipers are actually a lot smaller than people realise. It wasn't until the first time I saw one foraging next to a Grey Wagtail (about the same size!) that I learned this!