Solitary Sandpiper

To capture the Solitary Sandpiper on a trail camera, you need to think small and wet. Forget the open lakeshores; instead, target 'micro-wetlands.' Look for areas in your yard or local woods where water pools after a heavy rain, or the muddy, shaded edges of a small garden pond. These birds love cover, so placing your camera near overhanging vegetation or fallen logs along the water's edge is ideal. Because they are low-slung birds, your camera should be mounted very low—ideally 6 to 10 inches off the ground—and angled slightly upward to capture their reflection in the water, which adds a stunning professional quality to your shots.

Since these birds are highly migratory, timing is the most important factor. They are most likely to trigger your camera during the spring (late April to May) and the fall (late July through September). During these windows, set your camera to a high-sensitivity trigger with a short 'recovery time' or use a 'burst mode' that takes 3-5 photos per trigger. Their tail-bobbing and quick pecking motions can sometimes trick lower-end sensors, so a high-quality video setting of 10-20 seconds is often better for capturing their unique personality than a single still photo.

Lighting can be tricky near water. To avoid 'white-out' from sun glare reflecting off the mud or water, try to position your camera facing North. This provides consistent, even lighting throughout the day. If you want to encourage them to spend more time in front of the lens, you don't need a bird feeder; simply keeping a small patch of shoreline clear of tall grass so the mud is exposed will provide them with a natural foraging ground that they find irresistible. Finally, ensure your camera has a fast shutter speed to freeze their movement, as they are surprisingly quick when they spot a tasty aquatic larva.