{"id":15671,"date":"2014-08-19T05:08:03","date_gmt":"2014-08-19T11:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=15671"},"modified":"2025-08-17T08:30:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T13:30:25","slug":"least-sandpiper-at-the-lagoons-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/08\/19\/least-sandpiper-at-the-lagoons-edge\/","title":{"rendered":"Least Sandpiper At The Lagoon’s Edge"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LeastLeast Sandpiper at the lagoon’s edge – Nikon D200, f6.3, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I wanted to take a break from publishing the hummingbird images I have been creating lately so my readers wouldn’t get sick of tiny flying jewels.<\/p>\n

Instead I am sharing an image of the smallest sandpiper and shorebird in the world the Least Sandpiper.<\/p>\n

I came across this diminutive\u00a0Least Sandpiper\u00a0while photographing Greater Yellowlegs at a tidal lagoon at Fort De Soto’s north beach in the fall of 2008.<\/p>\n

I was laying at the edge of the lagoon with my body half in and half out of the water when the Least Sandpiper flew in close to me and began foraging at the water’s edge.<\/p>\n

When a wild bird comes close to me\u00a0it fills me with delight and I feel honored to be a part of their life if only for a few moments.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Least Sandpiper photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I came across this diminutive Least Sandpiper while photographing Greater Yellowlegs at a tidal lagoon at Fort De Soto’s north beach in the fall of 2008.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":152407,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,25,704,1719,2000],"tags":[970,4039,4440,14752,4620,4136,173,3997,1720,4017,3521,992,274,1721,4140,3996],"class_list":["post-15671","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-florida","category-fort-de-soto-county-park","category-least-sandpipers","category-pinellas-county-florida","tag-autumn","tag-beach","tag-calidris-minutilla","tag-coastal-island","tag-fall","tag-foraging","tag-gulf-coast","tag-lagoon","tag-least-sandpiper","tag-sand","tag-sandpiper","tag-sandpipers","tag-shorebirds-2","tag-smallest-sandpiper","tag-tidal-lagoon","tag-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/least-sandpiper-lagoon-mia-mcpherson-6406.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-44L","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23178,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/04\/29\/a-semipalmated-sandpiper-foraging-in-a-tidal-lagoon\/","url_meta":{"origin":15671,"position":0},"title":"Semipalmated Sandpiper Foraging In A Tidal Lagoon","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm sharing a simple Semipalmated Sandpiper image today that I photographed at Fort De Soto's north beach back in May of 2009.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Semipalmated Sandpiper foraging in a tidal lagoon, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/semipalmated-sandpiper-florida-mia-mcpherson-7153.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/semipalmated-sandpiper-florida-mia-mcpherson-7153.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/semipalmated-sandpiper-florida-mia-mcpherson-7153.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/semipalmated-sandpiper-florida-mia-mcpherson-7153.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5850,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/08\/04\/least-sandpiper-the-worlds-smallest-shorebird\/","url_meta":{"origin":15671,"position":1},"title":"Least Sandpiper – The World’s Smallest Shorebird","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) are the world's smallest shorebird, weighing in at a mere 0.7 ounces (20 g), a length of 6 inches and a wingspan of 13 inches.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Least Sandpiper - small in frame, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/least-sandpiper-sand-mia-mcpherson-3183.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/least-sandpiper-sand-mia-mcpherson-3183.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/least-sandpiper-sand-mia-mcpherson-3183.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/least-sandpiper-sand-mia-mcpherson-3183.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9028,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/07\/29\/spots-before-my-eyes-spotted-sandpipers-that-is\/","url_meta":{"origin":15671,"position":2},"title":"Spots Before My Eyes – Spotted Sandpipers That Is","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 29, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"So I finally have images of the breeding plumage of this small shorebird that show the spots that gave this bird the name Spotted Sandpiper!","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nonbreeding Spotted Sandpiper in Florida. Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/spotted-sandpiper-nonbreeding-florida-mia-mcpherson-8383.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/spotted-sandpiper-nonbreeding-florida-mia-mcpherson-8383.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/spotted-sandpiper-nonbreeding-florida-mia-mcpherson-8383.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/spotted-sandpiper-nonbreeding-florida-mia-mcpherson-8383.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8294,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/05\/05\/spot-the-sandpiper-on-the-seawall\/","url_meta":{"origin":15671,"position":3},"title":"Spot The Sandpiper On The Seawall","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 5, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"It really isn't too hard to spot this Spotted Sandpiper on the seawall, I just thought it was a catchy title. I saw my FOY (first of year) Spotted Sandpiper this past week and that got me excited.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Spotted Sandpiper on a seawall at Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/spotted-sandpiper-nonbreeding-mia-mcpherson-8398.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/spotted-sandpiper-nonbreeding-mia-mcpherson-8398.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/spotted-sandpiper-nonbreeding-mia-mcpherson-8398.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/spotted-sandpiper-nonbreeding-mia-mcpherson-8398.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":142947,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/04\/17\/migrating-pectoral-sandpiper-in-oklahoma\/","url_meta":{"origin":15671,"position":4},"title":"Migrating Pectoral Sandpiper In Oklahoma","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier this week, I was delighted to photograph a migrating Pectoral Sandpiper at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pectoral Sandpiper in Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pectoral-sandpiper-oklahoma-mia-mcpherson-5647.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pectoral-sandpiper-oklahoma-mia-mcpherson-5647.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pectoral-sandpiper-oklahoma-mia-mcpherson-5647.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pectoral-sandpiper-oklahoma-mia-mcpherson-5647.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":115306,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/08\/20\/least-sandpiper-in-kamas-valley\/","url_meta":{"origin":15671,"position":5},"title":"Least Sandpiper In Kamas Valley","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 20, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The most surprising and wonderful bird I saw and photographed on Thursday with my friend, April Olson, was a migrating Least Sandpiper in the Kamas Valley.","rel":"","context":"In "Bird ID"","block_context":{"text":"Bird ID","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/bird-identification\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Least Sandpiper in the Kamas Valley of Utah, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/least-sandpiper-kamas-valley-mia-mpcherson-7890.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/least-sandpiper-kamas-valley-mia-mpcherson-7890.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/least-sandpiper-kamas-valley-mia-mpcherson-7890.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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