Sandpipers: Part I

Again, the term is loosely used and debatable. But here are the first four:

The Greater Yellowlegs -- not nearly as good a photo as the others -- I found at Whitewater Draw in Arizona. It is about 14 inches so it larger than a jay, but smaller than a crow. It breeds on the tundra during the summer months, and winters along the southern coasts with an occasional sighting somewhat inland, as it is here at Whitewater Draw:

Greater Yellowlegs

The Willet is typically about 15 inches and likes coastal beaches, freshwater and salt water marshes, lakeshores, and even wet prairies. They are noisey birds with several distinctive calls -- similar to the Killdeer. They separate when feeding but if one Willet takes flight all will follow, as in the second photo. The first photo is from Central Oregon and second from Humboldt Bay, California.

Willet

The Spotted Sandpiper is half the size of a Willet. It winters in the Southernmost part of the United States and winters in throughout the rest of the US and Canada. The spots of the Spotted Sandpiper are only shown during breeding plumage. Otherwise the breast is white. This photo was taken at Lake Cochise in Arizona.

Spotted Sandpiper

The last one for today is the Long Billed Curlew. I am sure I have shown you this before, but since it is listed as a Sandpiper, here it is again. The Long Billed Curlew is quite large, the size of most large hawks, although shorter wingspan. It winters along the Pacific Coast and summers on inland plains. It is a sandpiper less associated with ocean shores.

Long Billed Curlew

Shorebirds

Shorebirds. Trying to group "Shorebirds" is as easy as trying to get a cat to obey. Are they birds only found on sea or lake "shores?" Are they part of, or a larger group that includes "waders" like heron? Do they include Gulls which hang around sea shores -- although, not inclusively. So, depending on your definition it could include as many as 200 or more species. Suffice to say, they typically are associated with wetland or coastal environments. Many species in Arctic and temperate regions are migratory, but tropical birds are often resident, or move only in response to rainfall patterns. The majority of species eat small invertebrates picked out of mud or exposed soil. Different lengths of bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Many waders have sensitive nerve endings at the end of their bills which enable them to detect prey items hidden in mud or soft soil. Some larger species, particularly those adapted to drier habitats will take larger prey including insects and small amphibians.  In the first photo you see a huge flock of sandpipers (of some sort) that seemed to sway with the wind, while on the ground there are ducks, geese, herons, and all sorts of waterbirds.

photo taken at Humboldt Bay, California

White Faced Ibis, American Avocet, Black Necked Stilt, Wilson's Phalarope, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin, and Western Sandpiper

photo taken at Lake Cochise, Arizona

Tomorrow, I'll begin with the Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies of which 36 species can be found in North America.

Grebes

On to Grebes, another not so complete account. There are seven Grebes found in North America. Of those the Least Grebe is quite rare, only found in the southernmost tip of Texas. The Red Necked Grebe is found only in the northernmost parts of Washington, North Dakota, and Minnesota. The Western, Eared, and Clark's Grebes are found mostly in the Western United States. The Horned Grebe migrates through the Eastern United States. And finally, the much more common and widespread Pied Billed Grebe found throughout North America. I had photos from my early days of Horned and Eared Grebes but can't seem to find them. Oh well. That just leaves three species I can show you. 


The Red Necked Grebe winters in calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes. They prefer shallow bodies of fresh water such as lakes, marshes or fish-ponds as breeding sites, though. Like all grebes, the Red-necked is a good swimmer, a particularly swift diver, and responds to danger by diving rather than flying. The feet are positioned far back on the body, near the tail, which makes the bird ungainly on land. It dives for fish or picks insects off vegetation; it also swallows its own feathers, possibly to protect the digestive system. 

Red Necked Grebe

photo taken at Puget Sound, Washington

The Western Grebe  is the largest of the North American Grebes. It's length is longer than its wingspan which is very rare for any bird. It can be easily confused with Clark's Grebe, but has black around the eyes and a straight greenish-yellow bill whereas the Clark's Grebe has white around the eyes and an up-turned bright yellow bill. The downy young of Western are grey; Clark's downy young are white. Western Grebes nest in colonies of hundreds on large inland lakes. It has a spectacular courtship display where two birds will rear up and patter across the water's surface. (In much the same way as I described the Loons on Plateau Lake in British Columbia). Northern birds migrate west to coastal regions in winter; birds in the southwest and Mexico typically are permanent residents. Like all Grebes they feed by diving for fish, mollusks, crabs, or amphibians.

Western Grebe

photo taken on Lake Samamish, Washington

The Pied Billed Grebe  is small, stocky, and short-necked. It has a short, blunt chicken-like bill, which in summer is encircled by a broad black band (hence the name). It is the only grebe that does not show a white wing patch in flight. Pied-billed Grebes feed mainly on aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and amphibians. Pied-billed Grebes have been shown to eat their own feathers to aid in digestion (prevent injury from small bones). It is found on open waters, ponds, marshes, and streams. It is usually the first grebe to arrive on northern inland waters in springtime, and the last to leave in autumn. It is rare on salt water. The Pied-billed Grebe breeds throughout North, Central, and South America. It creates an open bowl type nest in a platform of floating vegetation, loosely anchored by the cattails to float with the waves. When it leaves its nest it covers its eggs with vegetation. After a period of time the vegetation will stain the eggs and help conceal them better. Pied-billed Grebes are year-round residents in much of their range, though populations that breed in areas where their habitat freezes in winter will migrate to warmer regions. 

Pied Billed Grebe

photo taken at Sweetwater Wetlands, Arizona

Loon Tunes

The Common Loon is a diver and amazingly adept at catching its prey underwater, diving as deep as 200 feet. Freshwater diets consist o pike, perch, sunfish, trout, and bass. Their salt-water diets consist of rock fish, flounder, sea trout, and herring. Back in my flyfishing days, there was one lake I particularly loved: Blue Lake about 30 miles north of Merritt, British Columbia. The lake was truly pristine, as clear as glass. I have many wonderful "fish" stories from Blue Lake, several of which involve Loons. I was often the only human on the lake. My first each each day was always an offering to the Loons. At first, it wasn't by choice. As soon as my reel started "zinging" from hooking a (usually 3 pound) trout, a Loon would be next to me. The Loon would then dive and I would watch as the loon chased the trout that I had hooked. On many occasions I saw the Loon actually catch the trout and remove him from my fly. I remember once, having a Loon caught on my fly. The Loon was "hooked" for ten minutes; and there was little I could do about it. He would dive and take my line out a couple hundred feet, then pop up and the water's surface and shake his head. Then he would dive again. TEN MINUTES! Finally, he broke loose, and I could continue fishing. I was fishing with a friend that time who couldn't stop laughing.

Loons need a long distance to gain momentum for take-off, and are ungainly on landing. Its clumsiness on land is due to the legs being positioned at the rear of the body: this is ideal for diving but not well-suited for walking. When the birds land on water, they skim along on their bellies to slow down, rather than on their feet, as these are set too far back. I remember another time on Plateau Lake (again in British Columbia), a long narrow lake, where two loons "motored" on the water surface from one end of the lake and back. It was like a hydroplane race. Amazing to watch.  The loon swims gracefully on the surface, dives as well as any flying bird, and flies competently for hundreds of kilometers in migration. It flies with its neck outstretched, usually calling a particular tremolo that can be used to identify a flying loon. Its call has been alternately called "haunting," "beautiful," "thrilling," "mystical" and "enchanting."  

Loons usually nest on islands or weed-beds where ground-based predators cannot normally access them. Adults are not normally preyed upon, with the exception of an occasional sea otter or eagle.

Common Loon

photo taken at Blue Lake, British Columbia

Common Loon

photo taken at Island Lake, British Columbia

Common Loon

photo at Island Lake, British Columbia

Common Loon

photo taken at Pass Lake, Washington

Mergansers

On to the Mergansers.  Although they are sea ducks, most of the mergansers prefer river and lake habitats, with only the Red-breasted Merganser being common at sea. Mergansers are fish-eaters and have serrated edges on their bills to help them grip their prey. Therefore, they are sometimes referred to as "sawbills." Since they feed on fish, they are often found in open water. Hooded Mergansers have a crest at the back of the head which can be expanded or contracted. I assume this is to make them look larger to predators, don't know. It may also be a sign of "distress" like a white tailed deer raising its tail. In adult males, this crest has a large white patch, the head is black and the sides of the duck are reddish brown. The adult female has a reddish crest, with much of the rest of the head and body a greyish-brown. They breed in swamps and wooded ponds on the northern half of the United States and Southern half of Canada. They prefer to nest in tree cavities near water much the same as the Wood Duck. Hooded Mergansers are short distance migrants and winter on ponds, lakes, and rivers that will not ice up.

Common Merganser Male

photo taken at Harriet Lake, Oregon

Common Merganser Female

photo taken at Davis Lake, Oregon

Hooded Merganser

photo taken at Mahleur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

Red Breasted Merganser

Photo taken at Padilla Bay, Washington

Sea Ducks: or at least of few of them

Today, my pitiful collection of Sea Ducks. First, I should say that according to some experts, the Mergansers, Goldeneyes, and Buffleheads fall in this category. The Goldeneyes and Bufflehead I have shown you already under the category of Diving Ducks. The Mergansers are on tap for tomorrow.  Although the Goldeneyes, Mergansers, and Buffleheads have many of the physical characteristics of Sea Ducks, they are mostly found on inland waterways, hence my treating those ducks with the other diving ducks. The Sea Ducks I am going to show you today are almost exclusively found in the sea (which is why my collection is rather pitiful). Missing are the Common, King, Spectacled, and Steller's Eider. 

Harlequin Duck

photo taken at the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington

Old Squaw or Long Tail Duck

Photo taken Gray's Harbour, Washington

Surf Scoter

photo taken on Puget Sound, Washington

White Winged Scoter

photo taken on Puget Sound, Washington

Bobblehead Ducks: Coots

"Bobblehead Ducks" is my term, so you are not likely to find it used in National Geographic. I use the term because it best characterizes the coot who's head is constantly "bobbing" back and forth. Coots are duck-sized water birds common in South America, North America and Europe. They have prominent frontal shields or other decoration on the forehead, some with coloured bills, and typically with some white on the under tail. They have lobed toes. Coots can walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. This helps them get into and around the weedbeds that they are fond of. They have short, rounded wings and so are relatively weak fliers. They tend to be year round residents in the Western United States. Those that migrate winter in the Southeastern US, spending their summers in the midwest and Canada. Those that migrate do so at night.  Coots are omnivores taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and eggs. The American Coot dives more than its cousin the Common Moorhen. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizeable flocks on shallow well vegetated lakes. I have seen several thousand American Coots on a lake at one time. My observation is that they are the most abundant of all waterbirds (but I can't confirm that). Below you'll find photos of the American Coot and the Common Moorhen. The third of the North American species, the Purple Gallinule is found only in the Gulf Coast States.

American Coot

photo taken at East Lake, Oregon

American Coot

photo taken at Fig Lagoon, California

Common Moorhen

photo taken at Sweetwater Wetlands, Arizona

Common Moorhen

photo taken at Sweetwater Wetlands, Arizona