I feel confident about this ID, but it has been questioned, so I'm submitting it to ya'll.
August 25, 2020, Panjin, Liaoning, China. A wetland area, not quite marsh, but heavy rain the day before. This single sandpiper showed an amazing lack of fear of humans, so I was able to get some excellent closeup photos. I'll admit that my immediate thought when I was surprised upon walking right up on this sandpiper and it not taking flight was that it was a Wood Sandpiper due to the patterning on the back, but quickly noted the white blaze on the shoulder, more indicative of a Common. Shorter tail would work for Wood though. It was silent and never flew, just wandering off into denser cover.
Wood have been common in the immediate area this year, but I have found Common in the past.
August 25, 2020, Panjin, Liaoning, China. A wetland area, not quite marsh, but heavy rain the day before. This single sandpiper showed an amazing lack of fear of humans, so I was able to get some excellent closeup photos. I'll admit that my immediate thought when I was surprised upon walking right up on this sandpiper and it not taking flight was that it was a Wood Sandpiper due to the patterning on the back, but quickly noted the white blaze on the shoulder, more indicative of a Common. Shorter tail would work for Wood though. It was silent and never flew, just wandering off into denser cover.
Wood have been common in the immediate area this year, but I have found Common in the past.
