Tag Archives: Shore Bird

Yellowleg Battle

October 13, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I don’t know what these two Yellowlegs were sparring about, but they were pretty serious. They repeated this dance in several spots at the edge of the pond. It might be a mating dance but in October in South Carolina that seems out of sync.

The contrast between the birds and the grassy background isn’t what I had hoped for but the action and their flight skills were fascinating. Click on any photo for a larger view.

I don’t usually include this many images in a post but wanted to show the whole sequence. If you have Javascript you can jump to the bottom of this post and view the images as a slideshow.

Slide Show

If you have Javascript click on one of the photos below to view the photos as a slide show. If you don’t have Javascript you’ll see the photos repeated.

Yellowlegs Sparring

Yellowlegs Setting up for

Yellowlegs Sparring

Yellowlegs Yellowlegs in an elegant dance

Birds, Shore Birds

American Avocet

May 4, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

The colors and upturned bill makes the American Avocet an easy ID.

Getting a good photograph across the mud flats of this impoundment at Bear Island Wildlife Management area was another story.

American Avocet – click photo for larger view

This single one ventured closer to the edge, co-mingling with Plovers, Sanderlings, Willets and the other shore birds working the shallow water.

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC, 4/26/2017.

Birds, Shore Birds

Black-necked Stilt

April 27, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

It’s easy to see how this bird got its name. The Black-necked Stilt is a shore bird that has thin and delicate legs, giving the it an awkward looking walk.

This was my first sighting of a Stilt and I was quite impressed with his colors and precise movements.

He went back and forth along the edge of the tidal water, poking and prodding as he went.

Even more striking when flying, I saw several groups of two and three zipping by without getting an in flight shot. This take off shot and shadow will have do for today.

This turned out to be just a short hop to a new lunch spot.

Himantopus mexicanus

Birds, South Carolina

Levitating Sanderling

September 14, 2016 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

As the waves rushed in it seemed this sandpiper didn’t want to get his feet wet.

Even while probing the sand for food he balanced on one foot.

Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, Folly Island, South Carolina.

Birds, Connecticut

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

April 15, 2016 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Three or four pairs of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were nesting in this tree. It was hard to tell if the showy display was for the benefit of a mate or to scare off the circling crows. Maybe both.

This fellow paraded back and forth on this limb first showing off.

Then standing sentinel.