Sandpiper Baird’s (Calidris bairdii) non breeding vagrant – Western Cape South Africa

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Sandpiper Baird’s (Calidris bairdii) non breeding vagrant – Western Cape South Africa

This vagrant was apparently last seen in South Africa 16 years ago when only 10 species were had been recorded. It breeds in the northern tundra from eastern Siberia to western Greenland.  The Baird’s Sandpiper is a long distant migrant wintering in South America and a rare vagrant to Western Europe.

The day it was spotted it was some 100m away and largely hidden.  I was using a 600mm f4 Nikkor Lens with x2 converter in poor light so it is the best image I could achieve in the circumstances.

  • Species:Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
  • Bird Type:Non breeding Vagrant
  • FamilySandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
  • Date Taken20201111
  • Location:Strandfontein Sewerage Pond S5
  • Area:Western Cape
  • Country:South Africa
  • Region:All Africa South of Sahara
Photo File Ref: BOA17807d Sandpiper Baird's (nbre) V2 Strandfontein Cape Town WC South Africa Nov20 P85_5673
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