Birding the Milwaukee lakefront this morning the bird species of the day was Dunlin. There were two nonbreeding adults present at the beach area at Lakeshore State Park. They fed up and down the beach area along with some gulls hanging around. Other birds to note along the lakefront this morning was a Ruddy Duck, male in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park, also, two Sanderlings at McKinley Beach. Sanderlings this fall have been frequent along the lake, they have been seen on and off since August 22, sometimes as many as 31 in a flock. It was a dark gloomy morning and as I was leaving it was starting to rain. Chilly temps with good breeze, it was scarf weather for me. Images were taken on October 19, 2018.
Dunlin, very more colorful in their breeding plumage in the spring of the year…
Dunlin
Binomial name: Calidris alpina
Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies
Size: 8.5” long, 17” wing span
Weight: 2.1 oz
Going into the water for something to eat…
Something to eat in the bill…
Dunlin, a nice pose…
The two of them…
As I watched, they pick up things, must assume food and drop it…
Close up…
With something to eat…
They are often in the water with their bill and sometimes the head too getting food…
More food in the bill…
Getting something to eat…
The beauty of the back feathers…
Getting things to eat…
Dunlins bill is under the water getting something to eat…
Walking along the beach towards me…
The depression in the water around the bird’s head is interesting. Did it plunge it’s head into the water just before the shot or did something else cause the depression?
Great photos, Jim.
Well, Jim – you may have felt the dark and gloom of the day, but your images say something else. Those feathers on the bird’s back when enlarged resemble a delicate pine cone. So much beauty in the bird’s facial expression. No sign of gloom. Look how she dips her entire head into the cold water – and comes up smiling. No scarf, no gloom. For the moment, I’m the Dunlin – and I thank you, Jim!