With rain falling on my way to the Milwaukee lakefront I was expecting a quiet day birding. Halfway in I received a text from Mike W that a couple of the rare Piping Plovers were present at Bradford Beach. When I arrived at the beach they were still hanging around but for the most part rested while I was present. With lots of heavy equipment moving about the beach area a few feet from the birds with the upcoming fest, not surprising the Piping Plovers did not stay in one place very long. Beautiful birds we only usually see once a year if that, considered rare here, it was nice to see them for once without leg bands. It was a light rainy morning to start, then just clouds, light winds from the north early, temps were a pleasant 66 degrees. Images were taken on August 29th and 30th, 2018.
Piping Plover
Piping Plover
Binomial name: Charadrius melodus
Category: Lapwings and Plovers
Size: 7.25” long, 19” wing span
Weight: 1.9 oz
Note: Normal breeding range Great Plains from Alberta, Canada south to Oklahoma, winters on Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico gravel and sand beaches. The research I have done states this bird is listed as Endangered in Wisconsin
Piping Plover
For the most part they rested in a small area and did little moving about…
Resting a lot…
Earlier on the beach…
Looking for things to eat early on…
Searching through algae and debris on the beach for things to eat…
Resting area…
Distant in flight…
Preening…
Preening…
Piping Plovers…
Over the water they go, Semipalmated Plover in front, Ruddy Turnstone 2nd, all Sanderlings last..
Coming towards me…
The look back…
The Piping Plover standing pretty…
Looking along the beach for something to eat on 8-30…
Something in the bill…
The portrait…
Catches what looks like a fly?…
On the run…
Thanks for sharing these images, Jim. Upon I hearing that the Piping Plovers were spotted in Milwaukee I did a little research (since as you know, I am new to this wonderful hobby of birding). I tracked down a short video that explained how rare they are in the Great Lakes region. So glad you were able to capture such excellent images to share with us.
OMG so cute -really nice photos Jim Wish I coulda been there! Thanks for these.
Stunning shots as always Jim. I wonder if these came from a nest that wasn’t monitored or wasn’t known, since they are not banded. I’m feeling hopeful for our little endangered piping plovers.
Super photos, Jim.
They are so very special. We had an exclusive guide to Cat Island this spring and saw the three day old chicks. Your pictures are priceless. Thanks for sharing.