COMMON SANDPIPER

Photographed at Altona, Victoria February 2015

508           COMMON SANDPIPER           Actitis hypoleucos

Australia           (350)

19-22 cm. Breeds from British Isles to e. Siberia and n. Japan: winters s. Europe, Africa, India, s. and se. Asia to Indonesia, PNG, vagrant to NZ, regular, widespread but uncommon visitor to Australia; all Aust, except driest inland. Found in shallow, pebbly, muddy or sandy edges of rivers and streams, coastal to far inland; dams, lakes, sewerage farms, margins of tidal rivers, waterways in mangroves or salt marshes, mudflats, rocky or sandy beaches, causeways, riverside lawns, drains, street gutters.