there. Since there were still a few Semi-palmated Sandpipers on the bar, there would be a very small chance that a late Western would be with them in the remaining group. I know this is reaching a bit, but at least one Western has been reported in each of the coastal New England states as of yesterday....so maybe CT would be included?!
When I walked out onto the beach, I spotted this flock of mixed peeps flying along the shore. >
They flew down the beach, turned around and landed just up the beach from me. The flock was made up with mostly Least and Semi-palmated Sandpipers. >
I looked these birds over, but no longer and slightly curved bills could I find >
Another small group lands behind me on the shoreline. >
I was looking through the flock of mostly Semi-palmated and I noticed a banded bird. >
Then I found another one just to the left. >
Now I had another quest! Besides looking for a miracle Western, I started looking for banded shorebirds! >
The Semi-palmated Sandpipers were all well represented with various plumages (left). A Least Sandpiper (right). >
One of those "longer-billed" Semi-palmated Sandpipers....you know, the birds that get your adrenaline going when you are searching through huge flocks of peeps! >
The small groups of peeps kept moving up and down the beach. This made it difficult to search through all of them for bills and bands! >
This one Semi-palmated was backlit which made it difficult to study. I first noticed that it had a much longer bill. But after a brief study of the bird it was another one of those frustrating "longer-billed" Semi-palmated Sandpipers. >
But I did find the third banded Semi-palmated Sandpiper. This bird however was sadly limping. >
A beautiful display of camouflage hiding among the bar cobble >
The fourth banded Semi-palmated Sandpiper. I had a feeling a banding operation somewhere nearby had occurred recently. >
The banded Semi-palmated with a Least Sandpiper (right) >
A classic scenario! While I was watching these peeps, a dark image just appeared below the waves along the shore. A large Horseshoe Crab hauled out of the sea flanked by a small group of Semi-palmated and Lest Sandpipers. >
The Shorebirds began gathering around the Crab as if they were anxiously awaiting the anticipated deposit. >
As expected, I didn't find a late Western, but as I do with Waterfowl and Gulls, I enjoyed looking for banded birds. Four band Shorebirds are the most I have found at one time. As I approached the observation platform, this male Harrier dropped down to the ground for most likely a Vole. >
It looks to me like the Harrier was unsuccessful as it flew off to the point. >
My last stop on my way home was at Sandy Point at West Haven. As I walked out on the "high side" bar, this Kingfisher was fishing in the lagoon. >
By now the incoming tide half covered the sandbar. At the end of the high bar, a small clump of boulders offered a good roosting spot for three Shorebirds. These were the only three I saw on the bar: a juvenile Spotted Sandpiper.......
The Sandpiper eventually flew off into the lagoon......
.....but the pair of Turnstones remained. >
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