In all the extensive grasslands and ponds in Costa del Este (Panama City), I only was able to found one, and only one, Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria). What else can you expect of a bird with such a name? In Panama, the Solitary Sandpiper is a common winter visitor, found from august to april. Only the Spotted Sandpiper has a more widespread distribution in Panama and like it is found commonly away of the coast. It is incredible how a bird breeding in Canada and Alaska found its way to Panama and beyond!
This particular bird was in a muddy spot in the middle of a grassland, walking deliberately, picking insects from the water surface. It allowed me to approach closely, always vigilant. Sometimes, it was doing a high-pitched peet!; my sign to freeze and to stop approaching it.
Despite it is not brightly coloured, it has a very attractive pattern in white and brown with yellow legs. Those tiny white dots in the back and the white eye-ring are specially showy.
For a solitary bird, this sandpiper looks simply great!
For a solitary bird, this sandpiper looks simply great! This post was submitted to Bird Photography Weekly #109. Check it out!
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Just superb Jan. Those might well be the best shots I have ever seen of Solitary Sand. Well done!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! A great example of a bird that can blend in to its surroundings!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and interesting description. My birding books say that it is a rare vagrant down here to Australia.
ReplyDelete@ Phil: thank you very much, it was very close.
ReplyDelete@ Lana: you're right... I first detected it only because of its call!
@ Mick: Australia? WOW, and I thought Panama was southern enough.
VERY nice!
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