Wednesday, January 11, 2012

High Tide Roost

This post is for World Bird Wednesday.

On the highest tides of the year when most of the shorebird roosts are underwater, there is one small sandbank where the small shorebirds fly in to roost. When we kayaked there this year we again found small shorebirds lining the edge of the water. There were Red-capped Plovers and Red-necked Stints roosting together. (All photos enlarge when clicked on)
This Red-capped Plover looked especially nice standing in among the Sea-purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum).
As usual I took lots of photos and then examined them carefully at home. In amongst the Red-necked Stints was one different bird. It took me a while to work out that it was a Lesser-sand Plover. These don't usually roost so closely with the Red-necked Stints but I guess any roost is better than none! (Red-necked Stint in front and Lesser-sand Plover behind.)

20 comments:

  1. love those little red-caps. cute little redheads.

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  2. Wonderful images, especially that Red-capped Plover.

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  3. I long to live by tha coast.. beautiful birds to see Mick.

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  4. That first shot is priceless!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  5. Hi Mick, your photos are beautiful. The Plovers are gorgeous looking birds.

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  6. These birds are so beautiful! If you hadn't pointed out the difference, I'd have thought they were both the same kind of birds.

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  7. Sweet find of the L. Sandplover!
    Lovely photos as usual! I saw huge flocks of Shore birds for the first time yesterday. I didn't know we had such high numbers. The tide was too far out still though for me to catch any decent shots. But boy, it sure was fascinating! :-)

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  8. Your photos are wonderful. I especially like the second, so clear and distinct. Birds are such wonderful subjects, it's just hard to get close enough to capture good shots like yours.

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  9. That second shot is quite charming!

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  10. Fantastic shots, Mick! Beautiful close-ups!

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  11. They are each lovely! Closest thing we have to their look is a Killdeer and they have gone for the winter~

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  12. Great pictures Mick.
    It's always good to find a different bird amongst the pictures we take, when we study them later. :-)

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  13. Great shots today Mick. I learn a lot from your photos. And today your shots ia amazing. :)

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  14. I love to see different species roosting together. (The difference between me and you of course is that you KNOW what the species are.) Lovely pictures, thank you.

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  15. Red -caps are so cute! Love the images!

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  16. Excellent Mick, the first shot especially tickles my fancy. I love that long framing. Great catches!

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  17. Exquisite captures, Mick. The birds seem close enough to touch. Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog. Happy weekend.

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  18. Hi there nice to see the Stints are with you. Very low numbers down here this summer. Must be stopping off for all the inland water.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  19. Love those red-capped plovers, which we had some down our way.

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