Sunday, January 13, 2013

Purple Sandpiper

Sometimes birds end in places where they just don't belong.... In this case, of two Purple Sandpipers I saw this afternoon.

Extremely rare in Southeast Wisconsin, the Purple Sandpiper breeds in extreme Northern Canada and Iceland. They are late migrants and winters along the rocky Atlantic coastlines as far south as North Carolina. Occasionally, they will make it to Georgia and northern Florida. These guys seem the favor the cold weather. Identified by it's bi-colored slightly curved bill, purplish plumage and orange feet, this 'peep' probes the rocky shorelines for gastropods and crustaceans.

So why are they here? Honestly, I don't really know. Sometimes storms move birds long distances away from their normal range. I don't think it's the case with these two vagrants. The two we first sighted yesterday before the storm came. Besides, there was a pair sighed in the same spot a year ago. Whatever the reason is, I'm glad that I saw them. A lifer.

These pictures were taken this afternoon at the Wind Point Lighthouse just before the first pier by Shoop Park. I had read a report from my friends at the Hoy Audubon about their sighting yesterday, so naturally I went out to find these sandpipers. After spotting them on the rocky beach, some familiar faces found me taking pictures. It was one of the guys that I ran into yesterday at Bong while looking for Short Eared Owls. (Yes, I saw them) Other birding photographers poured in. It seems the word has traveled....

    Purple Sandpiper sightings
at

6 comments:

  1. legal strangerJanuary 13, 2013 at 11:13 PM

    Drew, I see sandpipers in Alaska whenever we are by the rivers running into the ocean. They can be very entertaining to watch Not too many around these parts of the country. Thanks for the pics.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ToadJanuary 13, 2013 at 11:33 PM

    Neat birrds. I can't identify anything that isn't really common. Robin's. Blue jay's, Cardinals.

    ReplyDelete
  3. OrbsCorbsJanuary 14, 2013 at 12:49 AM

    Thank you for the photos and info, drew.

    Somewhere in the mists of the past, I remember seeing sandpiper-like birds skittering around on the shore of North Beach. This was before the current "renaissance" of the beach.

    ReplyDelete
  4. kkditherJanuary 14, 2013 at 10:35 AM

    Wonderful shots, drew. What a find! I think that bird has his beady eye trained on us.

    ReplyDelete
  5. BL BasketcaseJanuary 14, 2013 at 5:50 PM

    Drew and THB... you pics are wonderful and what is even more wonderful is that you have some great thing together that you do.

    I used to birdwatch and had a big identification chart, and also a tape of bird sounds to help me figure out what was in the area.
    I would put out grape jelly and oranges for the orioles, buy thistle for the finches, and plant attractive flowers, such as trumpet vine to attract humming birds.

    ReplyDelete
  6. drewzepmeisterJanuary 14, 2013 at 7:18 PM

    At time of the year, sandpipers are pretty much non-existent in the state of Wisconsin. They'll be back sometime in April/May to feed along the rocky shorelines of Shoop, Carre Hagel and Samuel Myers Park. About five or six different species of 'peeps' call Racine home. More on that when the time comes.... Right now, I'm concentrating on the winter birds.

    Orbs, I know you mean by the "renaissance" of the beach. As a kid I remember Sanderlings wading around the tide pools there. That habitat is now gone. Sandpipers prefer rocky shores where the water pours in. Much of that can be found at Myers and Shoop.

    Thank you BLB. It is truly wonderful have a companion that enjoys what I do... It makes it all more worth while. Keep on feeding the birds. They'll bring you joy for years to come. Who knows someday we'll meet you on the field.

    ReplyDelete