Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers

 

May 18th

          This morning the weather was threatening so we decided "car birding" was probably our best option.  We went back to the lakeshore to look for some shorebirds.  Our first stop was the flooded field next to the Barnside Creamery.  I’m sure the owners of this place love it when there are good shorebirds next door.  It would definitely help boost ice cream sales.  We got distant scope views of the Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers which were new for us.

           “Peeps” is a common term for the five smallest North American sandpipers.  They tend to create more identification headaches than other shorebirds.  The Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers are both “peeps” as well at the Least, Western and Baird’s.  The Semipalmated is similar in size and shape to the Least Sandpiper but has black legs whereas the Least has yellow legs. 

          Semipalmated Sandpipers winter in South America and breed in the Arctic tundra.  They are usually found in flocks and during migration tend to be on open mudflats but can also be found in marshes and on beaches.  The Semipalmated Sandpiper gets its name from the short webs between its toes (“palmated” means webbed).  This is only visible at very close range.

          A White-rumped Sandpiper is called a long-winged peep because it has a noticeably elongated body and long wingtips.  It is larger than other small sandpipers and its white rump can be seen in flight.  The White-rumped Sandpiper has one of the longest migration routes of any American bird, from Arctic Canada to southern South America.

          After leaving the Barnside Creamery, we went on the Ottawa NWR Wildlife Drive.  We got much closer views of the Semipalmated Sandpiper.  While we were driving home, it started to rain.

(2 new species, total 263)

Semipalmated Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper (scarce)

                                           Semipalmated Sandpiper

                                           Dunlin


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