On the Beach

[Shortsighted]

I checked eBird (Darlington) this morning and discovered a single report that was posted at about 7:45 a.m. indicating the presence of a Buff-breasted sandpiper on the beach.  I immediately headed out there and then had to quickly return home for my shoes.  On the beach there was no evidence of that particular uncommon species of sandpiper.  I headed westward all the way to Beaton Point.  I didn't see any shorebirds onthe beach and also no submarine, but that was a given.  On the bay side there are short stretches of narrow beach here and there, mostly over there where I would need rubber boots because it required travelling through some water.  Here there was single Lesser yellowlegs and over there (where I couldn't go) was a single Black-bellied plover.  Too far away to photograph unless one has a 2,000 mm lens. On my way back from whence I came I saw five Sanderling and one Semipalmated plover.  I took a few shots of the sanderlings because they begged me to.  It looked like some kind of respectful genuflection.  Still no Buff-breasted in sight.  There was a curious Northern parula that hung around for reasons beyond my understanding.  So, now I've missed the Am. Golden plover, the Black-belled plover (up close) and the Buff-breasted sandpiper.  I'd miss my birthday if that were at all possible.


Lesser yellowlegs with sun behind clouds




Sanderling







Northern Parula



Have we met?

[Shortsighted]

A few more frames ...



Lesser Yellowlegs in breeze




Immature Black-bellied plover from a few parsecs away.  I think that it was where the yellowlegs was originally positioned but then relocated due to public pressure.  This new location (bay-side) would require rubber boots to access because of interruption of the shoreline sand/gravel by water right up to the reeds.  The Buff-breasted must have been here too, based upon the few photos that I've seen.  Then again, there is a stony section of the open beach that is also a possible location.  The white lump in the bay is not an iceberg.  It's a swan.  We don't get along.  A minor misunderstanding ... really.

[Charline]

Great shots, as usual.


I was passing Oakville and saw a snowy-like bird in the sky yesterday. Is it possible? Or is it just a gull.