A Sunday to remember
June 10, 2007 · Print This Article
I am going to do things a little different this week. Because of the spectacular birding adventure we had today, I am going to post several articles daily so I don’t overwhelm this site with a bunch of bird pictures in one article.
This first installment will focus on the very cooperative Semipalmated Sandpipers we encountered on Curtis Cove near Biddeford Pool.
Saturday was a dreary and a very cool day that was good for nothing but sleeping, and maybe shopping if that is your forte. We did bird our regular loop early in the morning, but nothing much was going on. (Those who knows us can attest to the fact that we have not missed a Saturday or Sunday morning of birding in over a year.)
Watching the news Saturday evening, we anxiously waited for the weatherman to give us a sliver of hope that the sun may shine on Sunday. He said it would, but as always, we doubted him.
Sunday morning rolls around and I roll out of bed at 5:15 a.m. Slipping on my glasses, I looked out the stairway window. BLUE SKIES!! Honey, let’s go, the sun is up and shinning!
Grabbing a quick coffee at a local haunt, we then headed to Granite Point. Upon arriving at our favorite birding site, we were greeted with multitudes of Tree and Barn Swallows. Looking across the marsh, Canada Geese, Great and Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons and Willets busied themselves with their prey. Song Sparrows sang from perches. Red-Winged Blackbirds blessed our ears with their melodious tunes. Goldfinches flitted about the trees and shrubs. A Red Fox scurried across the marsh with an unidentified animal in its mouth, soon disappearing into the woods to consume its bounty.
Arriving at Curtis Cove, we spied a large group of Semipalmated Sandpipers on the beach. Carefully and slowly I approached the group to within 50 yards, and waited for what I knew would be little time before they would come my way. And come my way they did!
The following series of pictures are the Semipalmated Sandpiper. A beautiful and delicate creature that flies with grace and cadence, and also can be comical while feeding along the surf line. Simply click a thumbnail for a larger view. Comments and criticisms are greatly appreciated!
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Tomorrows installment: Terns and Bonaparte Gulls.
Happy birding!
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Hi John-
A few of the shorebirds you photographed on June 10th are White-rumped Sandpipers. The photo in the second row, farthest to the right, with the bill open, is a White-rump. Also the two rightmost photos in the third row down (which I believe is the same bird). They are slightly bigger than Semipalmated. Also, there is a tiny patch of orange or pink at the base of the lower bill mandible. The streaks on the flanks continue all the way down almost to the tail. Also, you can see in those photos that the wings are very long, and continue well past the tertials and tail.
In the flight shot, you captured the bright white rump very nicely, in comparison with the Semipalmated Sandpiper’s rump which has a black line through it.
I also think the photo with the two birds preening shows White-rumped Sandpipers (the streaks on the flanks are extensive)
Excellent photos, keep up the great work!! I love seeing your wonderful bird pics.
Thanks,
Luke
Luke;
Thank you for correcting my assumption that these were all Semipalmated Sandpipers.
I see your point very clearly now that the pictures in question are White-Rumped Sandpipers.
I will edit my descriptions to reflect the correct names.
Thank you for your wonderful comments and for stopping by!!
John Briggs