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A Common Sandpiper Coming Face-to-Face with A Wasp

on 4th May 2012

“According to Wikipedia, the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) forages by sight on the ground or in shallow water, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans and other invertebretes; it may even catch insects in flight.

“No, don’t have the luck to observe a Common Sandpiper catching insects in flights yet. But, here is a series of pictures showing one with an insect prey – a wasp, which it picked up from the sloping rocky surface at the bank of a reservoir.

“As was the usual case, this sandpiper was seen moving along the edge of the water as it foraged for food. It must have seen the wasp perching on the rocky surface as it was bold and moved nearer towards me – to a close distance of about 5 metres. Surprisingly, it slowed to a halt as it approached within striking distance of the wasp. For a moment, it just stood there staring at its prey (1st row, left). Both bird and prey seemed frozen for that brief moment as they came face-to-face with each other (1st row, right). There was hardly any commotion as the wasp ended up in the bill of the sandpiper after it briefly disappeared behind a bulge on the rocky surface (2nd row, left). Almost immediately, the sandpiper turned around to move away with the prey firmly held in its bill. Was it afraid of me stealing its food? Or could it be looking for some privacy to tackle and consume its prey?

“After moving some distance away, it dealt with the prey. There was no bashing. The wasp was dropped on the hard surface (2nd row, right). With a slight twist of its head, the bird used its bill to twist the prey about. In one such moment, the wasp’s abdomen (indicated by a red arrow) became detached as it flew up before dropping down (3rd and 4th rows). The sandpiper was successful to have some privacy as it turned its back towards me before consuming the wasp. Later, the detached abdomen was also picked up and similarly consumed. After its meal, the sandpiper reached for the water and proceeded to drink before continuing to forage into the distance.”

Kwong Wai Chong
Singapore
28th March 2012

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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