Common Sandpiper

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Common Sandpiper
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 240 W: 21 N: 855] (2649)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Sigma EX 500mm f4.5 APO HSM, RAW ISO 400, Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DG 1.4x
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/160 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-28 2:42
Viewed: 340
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Common Sandpiper shot at RSPB Elmley Marshes nature reserve.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, is a small wader, 18 - 20 cm long with a 32-35 cm wingspan. Together with its sister species, the Spotted Sandpiper (A. macularia) they make up the genus Actitis. They replace each other geographically; stray birds may settle down with breeders of the other species and hybridize. Hybridization has also been reported between the Common Sandpiper and the Green Sandpiper, a basal species of the closely related shank genus Tringa.

The adult has greyish brown upperparts, white underparts, short yellowish legs and a bill with a pale base and dark tip. Juveniles are barred above and have buff edges to the wing feathers.

This species is very similar to its closely related American counterpart, the slightly larger Spotted Sandpiper, in its non-breeding plumage, but its darker, olive legs and feet and the crisper wing pattern in flight tend to give it away; non-breeding Common Sandpipers also have some barring on the wings visible at close range (see image below and compare with winter Spotted Sandpiper here). Like that species, it has a distinctive stiff-winged flight low over the water.

The Common Sandpiper breeds across most of Europe and Asia. It nests on the ground near fresh water.
It migrates to Africa, southern Asia and Australasia. This is not a gregarious bird and is seldom seen in large flocks.

The Common Sandpiper forages by sight on the ground or in shallow water, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans and other invertebrate. It may also catch insects in flight.

The Common Sandpiper is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
mariki, SelenE, haraprasan, Maite, darwin, CeltickRanger, Silvio2006, writerscrawlz, jaycee, Luis52, gracious, Jamesp, Gert-Paassen, vanderschelden, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Pekka,

A splendid picture of this sandpiper.
Excellent composition and sharpness. The colours are great, almost monochromatic picture with only the legs a little bit more yellow and the grass a little bit more green.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2336 W: 59 N: 4112] (13398)
  • [2008-04-28 3:22]

Hi Pekka,
Details and markings on the plumage look very good. I liked your low POV and the composition. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

Hi Pekka,
A nice capture of this beautiful sandpiper. I wonder why it is named so. Excellent composition and details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 64 N: 1199] (4856)
  • [2008-04-28 3:54]

Wow!! What a marvellous capture and beautiful picture, Pekka! Had it not been for those green herbs I should have thought you had passed it to sepia. Is really all so monochromatic? How curious! I love the magnificent sharpness, POV, DOF and composition.
Really superb job.
Congratulations and TFS
Greetings
Maite

Hi Pekka
Great capture of this sandpiper in his natural environment
Good sharpness and detail
Lovely color and composition
tfs jon

hello Pekka

excellent shot of the Common Sandpiper in food searching action,
very fine POV, DOF et framing, i love the low POV
at the level of the bird, great sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hello Pekka , very sharp and natural colored photo , good comp. also , TFS .

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5087] (17953)
  • [2008-04-28 14:57]

Very nice capture of this Sandpiper, Pekka!
This is almost sepia!
Excellent detail throughout and great sharpness too.
The lighting is excellent!
Great notes as well... I never had these birds down as agile enough fliers to catch an insect in the air!
I got a Red Kite from close range on Saturday... will post it soon!

Cheers!

Joe

Exquisite details on this photo! Not only is his plumage so finely in focus, but I can see the bug he is after. This is a superb shot, one I'm envious of. I love how he blends into his background - and I suspect you have sharp eyes! Terrific, just wonderful.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4021] (13255)
  • [2008-04-28 16:05]

Hi Pekka,

I love this duo-tone picture of the Sandpiper. Wonderful pose to go along with the beautiful colors. Details of the face, wings and plummage are superb. An excellent composition of the bird in its natural setting.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1035 W: 5 N: 2718] (9902)
  • [2008-04-28 17:43]

Hola Pekka.
Hermosos colores cafe tanto de la Ave como de su entorno, y que ademas se mesclan muy bien sin interferencia. Alta nitidez y exelente foco e iluminacion.
Saludos Pekka.
Luis52.

Hello Pekka,
What a great shot on the Sandpiper, my compliment!
the image is so sharp with stunning colouration and superb details in the shot
well done and many thanks for the sharing
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4446] (13284)
  • [2008-04-28 22:50]

Hi Pekka

An excellent shot - superb detail and pose combined with excellent pose.

James

Hi Pekka,

A very good picture of this Sandpiper in his natural habitat.
Beautiful colors and good of sharpness.

Gert

Hello Pekka,
I like the monochromaticity.
Beautiful Common sandpiper.
TFS
Annick

Hi Pekka, elegant bird with good details and splendid sharpness, great composition, very well done, ciao Silvio

Interesting look Pekka, I like the duotone effect here.
Excellent DOF, POV, detail, and composition.
Well done,
Howard

Hello Pekka, Detail, pose, and composition are excellent.
Tfs Richard

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