Howell Wetlands is suddenly alive with water birds. Fall is bringing its changes. I went twice on Saturday and returned on Sunday just to see what was happening!
On Saturday there was a flock of 8-10 Killdeer hanging around. They never take off or land silently....always screeching their "killdeer...killdeer" as they move about.
Along with them were 2 sandpipers. The light was the kind that gives me lots of trouble, so I was not happy with most of my shots. This was probably the best shot I got. I thought the two sandpipers were the same...looking at most of the photos. But how come this one looks "spotted".....
....and the feathers on this one look different. I really don't know Sandpipers and only see them when they migrate. I thought there were only two there....they stayed away from the noisy Killdeers and didn't fly away. They let me stand on the boardwalk fairly close to where they were stalking through the muck and mud.
Both look "spotty" here.
I never could figure out what they were eating, but they seemed to peck away at something in the mud.
Lift that foot high...the water is getting deeper.
Wings up.
On the deeper pond area, there were about 40 visiting ducks....I think they are all young Mallards.
They seemed to like stopping for the day. There were a couple dozen Canada Geese on the same lake.
Mike and I went back on Sunday and the two sandpipers were still there.
Side by side.
Hunting for something tasty.
Most of the ducks had left....just two with a handful of Canada Geese remained. There were small white feathers all over the surface of the water.
The light caught just a touch of the color under the wing on this one. Makes it look purple rather than blue.
Canada Geese are normally so clean looking and really preen a lot. This one was busy eating and covered in green slime. Whatever is in that green stuff is apparently very tasty, because both ducks and geese were eating away at it.
Big bird, little bird.
On Saturday there was a flock of 8-10 Killdeer hanging around. They never take off or land silently....always screeching their "killdeer...killdeer" as they move about.
Along with them were 2 sandpipers. The light was the kind that gives me lots of trouble, so I was not happy with most of my shots. This was probably the best shot I got. I thought the two sandpipers were the same...looking at most of the photos. But how come this one looks "spotted".....
....and the feathers on this one look different. I really don't know Sandpipers and only see them when they migrate. I thought there were only two there....they stayed away from the noisy Killdeers and didn't fly away. They let me stand on the boardwalk fairly close to where they were stalking through the muck and mud.
Both look "spotty" here.
I never could figure out what they were eating, but they seemed to peck away at something in the mud.
Lift that foot high...the water is getting deeper.
Wings up.
On the deeper pond area, there were about 40 visiting ducks....I think they are all young Mallards.
They seemed to like stopping for the day. There were a couple dozen Canada Geese on the same lake.
Mike and I went back on Sunday and the two sandpipers were still there.
Side by side.
Hunting for something tasty.
Most of the ducks had left....just two with a handful of Canada Geese remained. There were small white feathers all over the surface of the water.
The light caught just a touch of the color under the wing on this one. Makes it look purple rather than blue.
Canada Geese are normally so clean looking and really preen a lot. This one was busy eating and covered in green slime. Whatever is in that green stuff is apparently very tasty, because both ducks and geese were eating away at it.
Big bird, little bird.I'll be checking the wetlands regularly now that migration is starting....never know who might be stopping in for the day. I have some more shots from these two days that I'll save for tomorrow.
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13 comments:
Your second shot ( the sandpiper ) is excellent Mary now that you guys are in the fall you will have lots of Birds there stopping for a rest :))
Migration is a fun time to be looking for different birds, isn't it? I'm waiting to see our Rose-breasted Grosbeaks come through.. That is such a joy to me.
Love seeing the Sandpipers, Mary... They are beautiful. Glad they were still there when you went back.
Have a great Labor Day.
Hugs,
Betsy
During migration it is a surprise to see who will pass through.I can't help with the Sandpiper ID.
Hope today will bring you more good photo ops.
Blessings,Ruth
Looks like a great place for birding. I have never seen a flock of killdeer, only two or three at a time.
An Arkies Musings
What you cann Killdeer we call Three Banded Plover and they are just as noisy as yours. :)
What a lovely place Mary. I guess the birds will all start migrating now the weather is changing.
I think you got wonderful pictures of the sandpipers, but then the pictures of the ducks and geese are great as well. Hopefully you'll get lots of great pictures now that migration season is here.
Hi Mary, your first bird and subsequently as a pair of birds is a Solitary Sandpiper. I think the obvious spotting might be because it's a young bird (have a look in Sibley). The other bird with the slightly different plumage is a Ruff, not the pale yellowish base to the bill and yellowish legs. You got some great shots, looks like a hive of activity and should throw up some other good shorebirds during the next few weeks. (-: Have fun!
Hi Mary. I tend to agree with Jenny. Juvenile Solitary showing distinct white 'spectacles' plus dark shoulder. Underwing should be dark but the strong sunlight makes it look paler.
Wish I was a little closer to the coast to see what's going on. FAB.
Wonderful shots of your birds. The 'Wings up" picture is my favorite!
I love those spotted sandpipers...I am not really familiar with sandpipers either but sure enjoy seeing them.
Thank you everyone! I appreciate the identifications! I sure hope that Jenny and Early Birder are right because I've never seen either a Solitary Sandpiper or a Ruff before! Cool! I love migrating birds....like some of you said, you never know what will show up. I'm trying to watch for warblers and saw one so far. I'm behind on blog visits, but will get to all of you soon! Only one more week of the Tennis Open :-)
I'm just getting to these--sorry to be behind. The sandpipers with the nice eye ring are spotteds, but I think the reason you've never seen a ruff is that they are not seen in your area at all. I think that bird is more likely a Bairds or a pectoral, or one of the others that does migrate through your area. The photo just makes it look lighter than it probably was, You're getting such good shots of birds!! And butterflies!! I wonder what was on that tree trunk that attracted all those butterflies. Maybe a raccoon pee'd there--that's their favorite thing-- for the salts.
Also the three banded sandpiper in South Africa is similar to a killdeer, but not the same--the killdeer is Charadrius vociferus and the three banded is Charadrius tricollaris--both names describing their birds very well.
I think one of your sulphur butterflies is a clouded and one a cloudless--you can tell by the border on the wings.
Well, now I'm more confused then ever on the sandpipers, but that doesn't surprise me! The Ruff is shown as very rare in my area in the Sibley. They all look alike to me, except the difference in spotted or non spotted feathers. I can see why the Killdeer would have "vociferus" for its name :-) Down-right noisy would be my description!
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