As I was leaving the wetlands area, I saw a shallow puddle with a Mallard sitting in it and stopped to take a picture and then realized there was a little long-legged bird at the edge of the puddle! I figured it was a Killdeer until I began taking photos of it.
Using my bird guide when I got home and cropping some of them, my best guess is a Solitary Sandpiper. It had dark legs and a light circle around the eye. Never got to study the tail. I really don't know about this, if anyone else does. I don't think it is native to this area and probably just passing through.....although it seemed content.
This was my least grainy looking close-up shot.
A very pretty little bird, whatever it might be!
The pond is beginning to be covered with lots of duckweed and other scum and such. Have no idea what the white stuff in the following picture is. In a few weeks the water will be totally green in the areas in the woods where I usually see the turtles.
Speaking of turtles......there was a young couple throwing bologna to the turtles.....which gave me a chance to get a shot of one sticking his nose out! Will have to remember to take food next time I go!
Mostly they just lazed on the logs or in the water.
This one shows how much the duckweed is taking over!
I like this tree that arcs over the boardwalk.
A lovely red flowered vine that I bet the hummingbirds love.Lastly, I thought I would throw in one of the videos of the heron cruising the edge of the lake and doing at least one neck scrunch. You can see it bring its foot up to its neck at the very end. Scratching an itch? Grooming its long feathers? I have no idea, but it did it several times.
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17 comments:
Good morning Mary...sorry I can't help you with the sandpiper ID - nice, though. Your cats are beautiful, but do they go out with the birds?
Great pictures and video. I love the path! Bruce might be able to I.D. the sandpiper for you. She's good with identifying birds. Even my blurriest shots. LOL
Birdlady: My cats go out for short periods each day, but seldom bother the birds. They prefer sunny windows indoors. Two of them are 13 years old and just like to "look" and snooze. The gray cat, Mouse, would love to catch a squirrel....no real threat there!
Sandpiper: Thanks! I don't think I've ever seen a sandpiper except on the east coast, so I have no knowledge of them.
Mary, I'm going to agree with you on your Solitary Sandpiper guess... its seems like a pretty good call to me forit has 'white spectacles', or a white eye-ring like a Solitary Sandpiper has. What a nice find for you; a life bird sighting! A great sighting.
Me and My Camera: I tried looking it up on the internet but many of the pictures I saw for Solitary Sandpiper had yellowlegs, which according to my bird guide is wrong and these were dark. I love it when I see a new bird that I haven't seen before, but its nice to be sure what it is!
That white stuff on the ground is interesting, and if you find out what it is, that would be interesting. Enjoyed your photos today Mary. Great shots of the sandpiper and I always love turtle shots.
s
Another wonderful set of photos. I think my mom got a pic of some kind of heron in holland but it was so far away it is super grainy. I wonder what that white stuff is?
__JB
Sandy and JB: The white stuff is on the vegetation in the water. Have no idea what it is or how to find out.
I agree completely with your ID of solitary sandpiper, Mary. There's nothing else it can be. The legs may just be covered with mud or duck weed so look darker than they might be.
Wonderful heron pitures! What fun to see him catch and eat a fish too! I think he probably was scratching his neck--perhaps the magnificent breeding plumes are annoying him. I love to see you get so excited about birds that we have around us all the time here!
Bruce: Rub it in, Bruce, rub it in, that you have these lovely shore and water birds all the time! I get excited about anything...as is obvious! Thanks for agreeing about the Solitary Sandpiper. I've checked it officially on my "life list"!
You can duck all you want to....I happen to have some goldfinches today;)
Oh, by the way, xxoo. I just planted a hummingbird vine. How fast do they grow?
MPM: Welcome! I'm glad you have goldfinches and so does Annie....you two are obviously friends even when at war :-) I don't know how fast a hummingbird vine grows...sorry!
We had such a problem with duckweed and algae we've had to put 6 bubblers in our pond. While I can't get a still water pic any more, there's beauty in the bubblers, too. I'm envious of your turtle picture - they're too fast for me - well, not the snapping turtle, but there's nuthin' attractive in the least about him!
Must go feed (bribe) my gold finches!
tsannie: Well, the turtles aren't mine....but every time I go to this wetlands area there are some on the logs to watch. Now that I know you can bribe them with bologna, I may have to take food next time :-) Perhaps if you try throwing food out, they will surface for you. Our pond was always scummy with growth until they put that big carp in it that cleans it. We have turtles in our pond, but I never see more than a nose poking out. Good luck with the finches....hope you get lots more!
Congratulations on the Sandpiper, and on identifying it. It really helps to have a camera to hand, doesn't it!
Kingsdowner: Sure does! I don't see details half the time until I get back home and put something on the computer to look at.
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