A Spotted Sandpiper Surprise in Del Puerto Canyon – Reflections of the Natural World

One Moment in Nature is a reflection back in time to a moment of discovery as I explored the natural settings around me. Through the sharing of this moment, is my hope that readers will become motivated to learn more about our environment and its inhabitants, and become passionate advocates for conservation. One Moment in Nature is a Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER MOMENT

In hopes of finding one of the Yellow-breasted Chats that had been reported along Del Puerto Creek I found myself exploring a section of the creek just downstream from the wide pullout in Minnear Day Use Area at about mile 13.3. I was using the Merlin App to hopefully pick up the chattery calls of the chat, but all it was identifying was Ash-throated Flycatchers, Northern House Wrens and the occassional Oak Titmouse. As the Merlin App will sometimes do, it picked up what I assume to be an errant species call, “Spotted Sandpiper”. Spotted Sandpipers are frequently found on the valley floor almost anywhere there is water from July through May. They generally move upslope in late May to nest along Sierra Nevada streams, returning to the valley floor by mid-July.

I had never personally encountered them along the creek in Del Puerto Canyon and in retrospect, there are only a handful of records over the past several decades. But then as the app was flashing “Spotted Sandpiper” again, I heard it, weet-weet-peet-weet and I looked downstream to see the bird doing its bobbing tail-dipping dance not 40 feet away from me. I don’t generally get to see Spotted Sandpipers when they are sporting their alternate plumage, but this bird was in full breeding adorn and it posed for me long enough to snap several shots. Then with a departing weet-weet call, it flew upstream and the moment was over.

ABOUT THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

In Central California, the Spotted Sandpiper is a discreet but widespread seasonal presence, occurring primarily during migration and, in smaller numbers, throughout the breeding season. It favors freshwater habitats with gently sloping, pebbly or muddy shorelines—streams, irrigation canals, reservoirs, and pond margins—often in areas with low vegetation and quiet water. Unlike many shorebirds that gather in flocks, the Spotted Sandpiper is typically encountered alone or in pairs, its distinctive teetering gait and stiff-winged flight making it easy to identify even at a distance.

Breeding occurs sporadically in the Valley, mostly in the northern and foothill regions where suitable nesting habitat exists near undisturbed freshwater. During migration, the species is more broadly distributed, appearing from April through May and again from late July into September. It is one of the few sandpipers that can be found inland with regularity, and its ability to exploit man-made habitats—such as sewage ponds, irrigation ditches, and urban lakes—has helped maintain its presence in a landscape dominated by agriculture and development.

The Spotted Sandpiper is globally listed as Least Concern, with a stable population estimated at around 660,000 individuals. In California, it is not considered threatened, though its reliance on freshwater habitats makes it vulnerable to water diversion, pollution, and habitat fragmentation. Conservation efforts that protect riparian corridors, maintain water quality, and support wetland restoration indirectly benefit this species, especially during its migratory stopovers.

Natural history sets the Spotted Sandpiper apart with its reversed sex roles: females are more territorial and aggressive, often courting multiple males, while males take on incubation and chick-rearing duties. Nesting occurs close to water, often under low vegetation, and the precocial young feed themselves shortly after hatching. The species’ signature behavior—constant tail-bobbing while walking—is thought to aid in predator detection or prey flushing. In the Central Valley, its quiet persistence and unusual breeding strategy offer a subtle counterpoint to the more conspicuous rhythms of shorebird migration.

A PHOTO GALLERY OF SPOTTED SANDPIPERS

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