Wild Bird Wednesday - Spotted Sandpiper

Back in August, I met my first official Sandpiper since I started birding.  When I think of Sandpipers, I think of them on the beach and usually in groups, but Spotted Sandpipers are more solitary by nature.  It showed up at Laguna Niguel Park on the lakeshore one day.  I continued to check on it on all my subsequent visits and it was nearly always to be found along the edge of the lake, near sunset, and all alone.  It was so predictable that I even narrowed down its preferred area to the spot in front of a certain picnic bench. 

Even though it's normal for this bird to be by itself, I couldn't help feeling a little sorry for it being all alone and getting bullied by everything from Mallards to Egrets.  I got busy with work towards the end of October and haven't been back since then to check on it - I'm hoping to make it over there this weekend.  Wonder if any more have shown up...

You can just barely see a few of the spots that give this bird its name.  They are much more prominent during breeding season.  In the off-season, it reverts to a snow-white belly.

Yup...he knows I'm looking at him. 

This shot shows a few more of his spots. 

One of the few times I actually saw him venture into the water.  Right after this, a Snowy Egret came by and chased him back onto the shore.

So very cute!  I look forward to getting some photos when all his spots come back in (assuming he's still around then).

KJ