Reader Anne Houde is an old acquaintance who was a grad student when I first taught at Maryland, but is now a named (i.e., titled) professor of biology at nearby Lake Forest College. And she sent in some shorebird photos:
They are from Memorial Day weekend 2012, eastern Long Island. The sandpipers are Sanderlings (Calidris alba). They are on migration and they range from full breeding plumage (bright brown) to still mostly winter plumage (shades of gray). The others are Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodius), already well into their breeding season as you can tell. You can also see why they are endangered: their preferred nesting habitat coincides with humans’ preferred sunbathing and walking habitat. This particular beach had a roped off plover nesting area, but the chicks ran all over the place.
The first three photos are Piping Plovers; the last three Sanderlings:
And, of course, a day without a photo by Stephen Barnard is like a day without sunshine, so here’s a photo he sent yesterday of a raptor, along with this caption:
This is a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) photo I especially like. There’s a lot of information in this photo.
Readers are welcome to impart that information in their comments.
Constant amazement describes for me the ways in which these, and most birds, maneuver through close areas, such as tree limbs… Good photos all!
Me too! It’s incredible, and very cool!
I’ve always thought shore birds are the cutest things the way they run in and out of the surf! Nice photos!
I have to believe the Hawk is attacking prey or it would not be in that tight position among the branches. No wing room.
Watching shore birds is always a treat and relaxing with the rhythm of crashing waves. It’s a rare treat to see the adorable chicks.
The hawk is making a spectacular tight turn. I can also tell it looks to be a crisp Autumn day and from the shadows…1:00 in the afternoon? I’m sure there are more clues as to what the hawk is doing. I’ve just picked up “H” is for Hawk so maybe after reading it the photo will reveal more.
Spectacular. I know how rare it is to get a great bird-in-flight image. Well done.
Birds in the surf is very familiar to me, unfortunately human encrochment is a concern all over the planet along with their mammal friends that don’ t recognise fenced off breeding areas..sigh, the hawk looks well camouflaged for attack from that tree, at a guess that is.
Awwww! Piping Plover chicks!!
Re hawk: another thing it shows is how birds in flight tend to keep their heads parallel to the ground, no matter their wing angle.