I had not planned on looking for birds today. This afternoon a report came in from Peter Gaede - Baird's and Semipalmated Sandpipers at the Mission Creek Outflow. (Thanks Peter!) I am highly unlikely to find a Baird's Sandpiper closer to home than this.
In less than 20 minutes I had dropped whatever I was doing and was at the Outflow looking at the shorebirds. They were a bit skittish and it took awhile to locate the interesting ones. The first one I found was the Semipalmated Sandpiper, very similar to the common Western Sandpipers, but with a shorter straight bill. (See photos)
Shortly thereafter I found the Baird's Sandpiper - larger and chunkier than a Western Sandpiper, streaked breast without white shoulders, straight bill. It had what looked like damaged feathers on the right side but seemed to fly normally. Bird #238 for the year!
There were many other birds around but I needed to head back home to start cooking dinner. A quick and successful outing!
A few photos from today:
After the addition of this 1 species, the year's total stands at 238.
In less than 20 minutes I had dropped whatever I was doing and was at the Outflow looking at the shorebirds. They were a bit skittish and it took awhile to locate the interesting ones. The first one I found was the Semipalmated Sandpiper, very similar to the common Western Sandpipers, but with a shorter straight bill. (See photos)
Shortly thereafter I found the Baird's Sandpiper - larger and chunkier than a Western Sandpiper, streaked breast without white shoulders, straight bill. It had what looked like damaged feathers on the right side but seemed to fly normally. Bird #238 for the year!
There were many other birds around but I needed to head back home to start cooking dinner. A quick and successful outing!
A few photos from today:
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
After the addition of this 1 species, the year's total stands at 238.
Today I rode a total of 7.9 miles
More later,
Glenn
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