Sandpiper

Description:

This is a small wader, about 20cm in length, mainly brown above and white below, with green-yellow legs and a slightly decurved bill. Its main visual characteristic helping to ID it is that streaked breast (pic N° 1) and a white crescent-like patch protruding in front of the wing (easily seen in pics 1 and 2). This a common non-breeding Palearctic migrant, and can be seen in Southern Africa between December and April.

Habitat:

Observed in a small narrow valley (pic N° 4), where a small stream still runs under these sandstone cliffs. Inside the valley, the vegetation is lush and green, while on top of this cliffs is just like in the rest of the region, arid acacia tree-and-shrub landscape, or thornveld. This was Kunene region of Namibia (northwest), and the region in question is still very dry (but still magnificent and rich in wildlife) at the moment, after a three or four years of dry spell; and it reserves some surprises like this spot.