GREEN SANDPIPER
This plump looking wader is 200 to 240mm long. At first sight, it looks dark on top and white underneath. The back is actually greenish brown with fine spots and the wings being dark brown. The head and breast are greyish brown with a distinct, clear-cut border to the white underside. The long, narrow bill is dark green, as are the short (for a wader), legs. In flight, the wings are dark above and below, contrasting to the white underside and white rump, giving it the appearance of a large house martin.
You will only see the green sandpiper here on Kefalonia, in the Winter, as it goes up to subarctic Europe to breed in the Summer. This bird is also a bit of a loner, although if a suitable feeding site is available, a few might congregate. Green sandpipers are a freshwater bird, so ponds and lakes, with a lot of cover from trees and shrubs are favoured. Even small streams and ditches are acceptable. My first sighting of this bird was in a small tributary, leading to our weir.
