Bird Weekly – Photo Challenge – Shorebirds

Welcome to Week #22 of the Bird Weekly Photo Challenge. Week #22 challenge gives way to Shorebirds.

Shorebirds can be found anywhere there is a water hole. You don’t have to live at the beach or on a lake to see shorebirds. These will include gulls, terns, plovers, sandpipers, egrets, herons and many more.

The feature image is a Laughing Gull taking off right in front of me.

Black-bellied Plover

Black-bellied Plover at St. Marks Wildlife Refuge in the spring.

The Black-bellied Plover are found all over the world, yet this is the first one I’ve ever seen. This was in April on one of our day trips to St. Marks Wildlife Refuge during the lockdown. Interesting fact about these birds is that they live on the ground around beaches and flats like this one in the photo, however in areas of the Caribbean & South America, they may roost together in mangrove trees. They migrate through Florida and are not residents.

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican soaring above my head under the blue skies.

Did you know that sometimes you will see gulls perch on top of the head of a brown pelican and try to steal their fish while draining their bills after a dive?

Willet

Willet prancing along the shoreline at Little Talbot Island State Park.

The oldest known Willet in North America was a female that was banded in Oregon. She was at least 10 years, 3 months old when she was found in California.

Black Skimmer

When things go very very wrong with photography. I accidentally hit my shutter button on my camera. It was a very bright day and I couldn’t see my screen, my eyes were burned from the brightness that I couldn’t make out any of my settings when I had my eye to the eye piece. It wasn’t until I got to the car that I could see my settings and a whole day of photo opportunity wasted. I was able to make corrections in photoshop but this should have been one of my best shots of the day. Such as life as a photographer!

Sanderling

Sanderling digging for something to eat in the sand.

Did you know that after foraging on the beach like this one here, they often regurgitate sand pellets mixed with fragments of mollusk and crustacean shells? Makes my esophagus hurt thinking about it.

Laughing Gull

Just extra photos of the Laughing Gulls who posed up so well this summer!

Wilson’s Plover

Wilson's Plover strolling along the beach at Little Talbot Island State Park.

The Wilson’s Plover can be found along the shorelines of the Americas and Caribbean. They are found on salt flats and sandy beaches or barrier islands. This one and 3 others were found on Little Talbot Island State Park which is a barrier island in Jacksonville, Florida. Their habitat is getting eroded away more and more every year with the intensity of storms. Not just hurricanes, but Nor’easters as well.

White Ibis

White Ibis hiding in the reeds just at the edge of the water at Viera Wetlands in Viera, Florida.

The White Ibis is the mascot for the University of Miami and is called Sebastian the Ibis. The legend goes that they chose the White Ibis because it is able to withstand hurricanes which is the name of the university’s football team, Miami Hurricanes.

Black-necked Stilt

Black-necked Stilt in search of food. Don't blind yourself looking at their pink legs.

With their rosy pink legs, the Black-necked Stilt is an elegant shorebird with it’s black and white plumage. I may share more of this bird next week because they have the second longest legs in proportion to their bodies of any bird. The top spot for longest legs to body ratio goes to the flamingos.

Upcoming challenges can be found on my Bird Weekly Challenge Page.

Until next week…Week #23 – Long Legged Birds

Lisa Coleman

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52 responses to “Bird Weekly – Photo Challenge – Shorebirds”

  4. You have quite a variety of shorebirds, Lisa and you know what they are! I hear ya about the photography oopses! Hate when that happens. Your photoshopped version came out well. I just love your opening shot of the laughing gull taking off!

    • That’s Terri! I was surprised that I got it. I’m not that great at catching birds in flight. I’ve been using PS for 20 years but only on a very little basis. I’m getting better at it everyday. I’m between moderate & advanced. 😊

    • Thanks! We have the Glossy Ibises here too and occasionally will see a white face. It is exciting when we see them because they are uncommon. But the further south we go in Florida, the better chance to see them. The white ibises are everywhere. 🙂

  9. Poor pelicans. How annoying that must be. I hadn’t realized that interesting trivia.

    • Thank you. Some weeks I feel like I’m using the same birds. Guess I am. I’m eventually going to run out of new birds because I can’t get out of Florida. Still having fun and loving everyone else’s birds. 😊

  23. Great post Lisa. Such a variety of interesting shore birds. I’ve never heard of a Willet.
    I think most of us have had days when it’s not till we get home that we realise camera settings were all wrong.

    • Thanks Helen! I knew they were wrong but couldn’t see anything as sun was bright and bouncing the rays off the sand. I couldn’t see anything. 😊😎

  28. You do so well at identifying them all, as well as capturing wonderful photos, Lisa. Love the Willet and the little Sanderling. Imagine flying for 10 years! Exhausting 🙂 🙂

    • Thank you Jo! Passion project! 🙂 The Willets and Sanderlings were so good to us this year with photography. I don’t think I would want to be a bird. Paranoid, looking over your shoulder every other second. They lead stressful lives! LOL! 🙂

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