Outdoor Ontario
Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Shortsighted on August 06, 2024, 11:44:56 AM
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I find that Spotted sandpipers are easier to find in August than in July, but it is unlikely that any one of them will still feature spots, but instead display a plain white breast and belly. I've also noticed that it is far easier to photograph a Spotted (sans spots) when one is exploring the irrisistible shadow-land between the boulders of a rocky shoreline, than when I encounter one on a beachfront. On an open expanse this bird doesn't want any part of me. When I encounter a Spotted on a beach it will immediately relocate from its preferred spot when it spots me approaching from a considerable distance towards its chosen spot, and I must add that I've never used the word "spot" that many times in one sentence. That kind of behaviour is what I call a spot of skittishness taken to an exponent. There is an exception though. If there are other shorebirds around, species that are very much more tolerant of people, then even a skittish Spotted will act like all the other birds. It might display selective tolerance. Although remaining motionless and sandy is still a prerequisite. By contrast, when among the rocks I've had a Spotted approach almost close enough to discern my shoe size, provided that I don't remove my shoe to validate. In August, a few Spotted sandpipers might still keep some few spots as memento. A Spotted comes across as manic compared to most other shore birds, although Sanderling are even more extreme, often seen to run back and forth on a beach in synchrony with the reciprocating water line and it doesn't get more dynamic than that. When a Spotted is on a beach it may be already receding by the time I get my lens on it. Makes me think of the Flash. When on the rocks I have all the time in the world.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-CDdcd56/0/KpL3QtDz5Zb4PS2CKnCBCH5fbvfXxLtTt2h5ddZmd/M/Spotted%20Sandpiper%2Ccropped-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-CDdcd56/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-SgT5q63/0/LjHvVPMhLkfvhbngz4HS395BcTD62cW29Qmg7QXqS/M/sans%20Spotted%20on%20the%20rocks%2Ccropped-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-SgT5q63/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-jwk2FRp/0/MLKPLbtBdQkDnLHkJ3cQCT5nbH8Q54sjqmwjtTT2C/M/Sandpiper%20out%20of%20cave%2Ccropped-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-jwk2FRp/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-4fVZk4z/0/L238hXxgjcJq674cPJ76jmrw4NcGg2KgmQmTm6bt6/M/Spotted%2C%20slippery%20slope%2Ccropped-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-4fVZk4z/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-mnz4bp2/0/MVWc7NWKmc6gMMhXqMLX6Kx4zPWkQBQZhM9GT4Zvg/M/Spotted%20top%20of%20rock%2Ccropped-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-mnz4bp2/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-NTPCkf2/0/L44pTPsnwLJWCnCf3HtnsZfVMsrWL8fgm8r2kgChf/M/Sandpiper%20klingon%2Ccropped-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-NTPCkf2/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-pVDNM9k/0/LkDVVkKhDw5rKDDC5snjsw9M7JsfgRMJX2fdp5BJL/M/Spotted%20SP%2C%20leaning-M.jpg) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontario/Outdoor-Ontario/i-pVDNM9k/A)