Ruddy Turnstones at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 25, 2023

One of my birding stops today gave nice views of 4 Ruddy Turnstones all males.  They were found at the far north end of McKinley Beach, some call it pebble beach. Also present was one Semipalmated Plover, a male. While I was there they were flushed a couple of times by walkers but always returned to the beach. I caught a little bit of their feeding action of finding things to eat that had washed up on the beach. It was a beautiful morning with full sun and a good breeze off the lake, almost felt cold at times, temps were around 60 degrees. Images were taken on May 25, 2023.

One of the 4 Ruddy Turnstones…

Going for something here to eat…

Something in the bill here, it is small…

Getting something here to eat…

A Semipalmated Plover, male…

Just another shot!

Ruddy Turnstones at Bender Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 22, 2023

One of my birding stops today provided nice views of 2 Ruddy Turnstones at Bender Park. They fed on the big rocks for bugs the time I was there. They moved in and around the rocks non stop finding things to eat. It was a beautiful day with full sun and mild temps, hardly a breeze. Images taken on May 22, 2023.

Ruddy Turnstone, male moving around on the rocks finding things to eat…

Finding a bug…

This is all they did while I was there, find things to eat…

The 2…

From one rock to another…

Looking for a bug…

Looking for bugs…

Giving nice looks from a distance…

Ruddy Turnstones at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 3, 2017

My first stop this morning on Milwaukee’s lakefront was McKinley Beach. Guess there were at least 25 shorebirds. Mostly Sanderlings, a Least Sandpiper, and  few Semipalmated Plovers. Also present were 2 Ruddy Turnstones which are always exciting birds. They feed in the more stony areas of the beach turning over items on the beach such as mussels getting food. They were flushed often by walkers with and without dogs but held still a few times for photos. It  was a beautiful morning to be out with sunny skies and pleasant temps. Images were taken on September 3, 2017.

Ruddy Turnstone, juvenile on the move

Ruddy Turnstone

Binomial name: Arenaria interpres

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 9.5” long, 21” wing span

Weight: 3.9 oz

Ruddy Turnstone feeding on a mussel…

Ruddy Turnstone in a mussel and always turning things over…

Ruddy Turnstone with something to eat

Feeding in the water too….

Ruddy Turnstone feeding on mussels

Feeding

Ruddy Turnstone, juvenile

In search of food…

Northern Shoveler, maybe adult female

Ruddy Turnstone, Breeding adult plumage for comparison to fall plumage, taken in spring 2017. Image for reference only

Ruddy Turnstone at the McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin May 23, 2017

Doing some birding long the lakefront in Milwaukee today, the stop at McKinley Beach proved fruit full for a few nice shorebirds. A stunning male Ruddy Turnstone was feeding along the algae mat and put on a great show. It worked some of the big rocks too along the side of the beach feeding. Amazing as I have seen before, I watched this bird turn over rocks looking for food, probably why it got the name “turnstone”. Also present a Dunlin, and some Semipalmated Sandpipers. The Piping Plover was still present too! When I arrived at the beach I saw Sue K capturing a few shots already from the other side of the beach. A few rain drops started coming down and I left. Images were taken on May 23, 2017.

Finding things along the rocks to eat…

Ruddy Turnstone

Binomial name: Arenaria interpres

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 9.5” long, 21” wing span

Weight: 3.9 oz

Coming in…

Finding things to eat as the wave comes in…

Looking for things to eat…

Something to eat, a crustacean…

Something to eat, a crustacean…

Getting things to eat

Getting something to eat…

Ruddy Turnstone at North Point in Sheboygan Wisconsin on May 31, 2016

At my visit to North Point this morning in Sheboygan another stunning species showed up. A Ruddy Turnstone, adult male continually feed while I was present except for a few times the gulls flushed the area. Colors on this bird are amazing! While I watched this bird feed, it turned things over on the shore looking for food, which goes with it’s name.  Images were taken on May 31, 2016.

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Ruddy Turnstone

Binomial name: Arenaria interpres

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 9.5” long, 21” wing span

Weight: 3.9 oz

Cool Fact: The Ruddy Turnstone turns things over on the shore foraging for food such as stones and other objects.

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Here the Ruddy Turnstone is turning over a piece of fish skin foraging for food

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Just ate something

Ruddy Turnstone with a Bonaparte's Gull, size comparison image

Ruddy Turnstone with a Bonaparte’s Gull, size comparison image

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Ruddy Turnstones at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin September 13, 2014

With Bradford Beach being a hotspot the last couple of weeks I made a run in to check it out. 2 Ruddy Turnstones were present which is what I had hoped to see as they have been reported on and off there. Also present were 2 Baird’s Sandpipers, ~50 Sanderlings, ~10 Bonaparte’s Gulls, Solitary Sandpiper and more. The Ruddy Turnstones were feeding all the time I was there and they were moving at a very fast pace! There was one time I caught one preening. It was a pleasant day to be out birding on the lakefront and it was also nice to touch base with a few birding friends I have not seen for awhile. Images were taken September 13, 2014.

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Ruddy Turnstone

Binomial name: Arenaria interpres

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 9.5” long, 21” wing span

Weight: 3.9 Oz.

Habitat: In the breeding season they can be found on rocky Arctic coasts and tundra. In migration and winters they are found on rocky shores, sand beaches and rocky mudflats. In migration they can also be found on plowed agricultural fields inland.

Diet: Ruddy Turnstones eat a variety of foods such as insects, insect larvae, worms, crustaceans, molluscs, and sometimes berries. They occasionally will eat small fish and bird eggs. Their method of catching their prey may include flipping over of stones, seaweed, and probing with its bill into the sand and mud. They also find food on the surface of rocks.

Nesting: Nest is a shallow depression on the ground lined with some vegetation build by the female. It is sometimes located hidden within rocks or underneath shrubs.

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