Tringa ochropus

This is an exciting bird to see in southern Africa! It is a rare, palearctic, breeding migrant and can be found wading in freshwater wetlands in the north and east of the region. Its black underwings and broadly barred tail are the best features to separate it from the far more regular, common and wood sandpipers.

I first recorded this species in October 2013 at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.