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Spotted Sandpiper

Status Summer resident. A few arrive in late April (average 3 May, earliest 15 April, apart from one exceptionally early bird on 8 April 1979). More are present by mid-May, late May on Cape Breton Island. It breeds along streams and lakes, and locally along coasts provincewide. Because it does not congregate in migratory flocks, its departure in August and September goes relatively unnoticed, but stragglers are regular in October (average 20 October, latest 7 November). A bird on 29 November 1970, another on 11 December 1968, and four late-December individuals, the latest on 31 December 1968 at East Bay, Cape Breton County (WP Neily et al.), were exceptional.

Description Length: 18-20cm. Adults in summer: Brownish gray above with slight greenish lustre, more or less marked and barred with blackish brown; grayish white line through eye; underparts white, profusely marked with round, black spots; legs greenish yellow. Adults in winter: Breast unspotted. Immatures: Similar to winter adults; breast slightly washed with gray.

Breeding Nest: On the ground, usually concealed by low plant growth but sometimes wholly exposed; a shallow depression sparsely lined with dry vegetable matter. Eggs: 4; creamy buff, thickly spotted and blotched with dark or chocolate-brown, more profusely around the larger end. Laying begins during late May. Two sets of four fresh eggs were found: one on 30 May 1898 at Gaspereau, Kings County, and the other on 16 June 1949 at Port Mouton, Queens County. A remarkable nesting location was the bleak rocky ledge known as Gannet Rock about 4 km off Cape Forchu, Yarmouth County. The only birdlife there on 9 August 1935 was a pair of Spotted Sandpipers, one of which was followed by a half-fledged youngster. The rock was bare of vegetation and its highest part so low that during heavy storms the spray must be thrown over most, if not all, of the surface.

Range Breeds throughout Canada from the limit of trees south to California and Virginia. Winters from southern British Columbia and South Carolina to South America.

Remarks Like all members of the family Scolopacidae, the young leave their nest soom after hatching. I once attempted to catch a day-old chick as it ran ahead of me along the shore of a pond. When hard pressed, it took to the water and swam with ease. When further pressed, it actually dived but bobbed to the surface within a second or two. When placed by hand on the beach, it scampered off, apparently none the worse for its ducking. If an adult is attacked by a winged predator while in flight over water, it will dive below the surface to escape its pursuer. If still harassed after surfacing, it will dive again (Tothill 1918).