Common Sandpiper
Originally published in July 2018, refreshed in 2026.
Living close to a river means there’s something to find, see or hear every single day. One of those “somethings” is the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) 🐦
A rare little bird
The Common Sandpiper breeds across most of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia, and migrates to Africa, southern Asia and Australia in winter. In the Netherlands it’s on the red list: only some 10 to 30 pairs stay here to nest.
Sometimes I hear its call when I take Yaz out for her daily walks. At sunrise or sunset, that sound is absolutely wonderful to me. When I do see them, they fly in small groups, low over the water. They’re quick and tiny, so even with the camera ready they’re hard to find on the rocks, let alone follow 😅
Curious what that sound is like? Have a listen 🎧
Recording: Herman van der Meer, XC146504, via xeno-canto (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).
Finally!
Last Tuesday I took Yaz for a walk, camera ready as always. Suddenly I heard that beautiful sound again, and two sandpipers flew away from me along the shoreline. One of them landed not far from where I was standing… time for some photographic hunting! 📸
And Yaz?
Oh right, Yaz was with me. She listens very well, but what do you expect from a three-year-old Flat-coated Retriever? Most of the time she has carrots in her ears, and she’ll listen… after she’s done her own thing 😄
This time I told her to lie down and stay. I sneaked closer and closer, taking photos whenever I could. When I looked back, about 30 metres away, guess what: she was still exactly where I’d left her! I could only just see a bit of her head and those fluffy ears. When I signalled her to come, no dirt went flying. Normally she’s a little cannonball, but now she approached very carefully, staying low, until she reached me. Just one hand signal and she stayed put. She did amazingly well! 🐾
Enjoy! ✨