Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularia

Rare & annual vagrants from North America with 250 records for Britain, mostly Autumn & Winter.

Breeding Adults have short yellowish legs and an orange bill with a dark tip.

The body is brown on top and white underneath with black spots.

Winter Adults & Juveniles do not have the spotted underparts, and are very similar to the common sandpiper of Eurasia; the main difference is the more washed-out wing pattern visible in flight and the normally light yellow legs and feet of the spotted sandpiper.

They also have a distinctive walk in which their tails bob up and down.