faerye OP , 1 month ago

Here is the lil’ beggar. I feel photos do not do justice to how tiny this chap is, however. Perfectly proportioned model of a shorebird, foraging about very close to me! (I am ashamed to say I didn’t notice the plastic debris in the background while I was there: looks like it comes from nearby construction, and I’ll bring a trash bag next time I go.)

(Least sandpiper, Beaverton, Oregon)
#birding #shorbSeason #BirdPhotography

The sandpiper standing tall, displaying its very ruptive plumage, perfect for breaking up its profile as it walks about on land. It has a very long beak with nostrils far from the slightly spade-shaped tip, and an almost thoughtful face with a large eye in densely striped feathers. The patterns of the feathers get larger as they progress down the back, so on the folded wings one can see a pattern of bars and spots on each feather, a bit like a butterfly’s wing. Its belly is white with silken feathers, and its long yellow feet end in spreading claws to negotiate mud.
The sandpiper high-stepping through bright green weeds on land. One foot is fully lifted so we can see the length of its bundled toes. Its beak is wet from explorations in the shallows, and its almond-shaped eye is very dark and deep.