Sunday, July 31, 2016

Solitary Sandpiper (Chevalier solitaire) and Killdeer (Pluvier kildir)

     A sure sign that the year is rapidly moving ahead is the return of shorebirds from their northern breeding grounds. Although Waterloo Region is not a major stopping off point for these southbound migrants there are many places where small numbers can be observed.
    We have recently been spending an hour or so each afternoon checking out a small area in the village of Erbsville right at the edge of the City of Waterloo which is soon to be enveloped by a major new subdivision which has been approved. Without a doubt some of the natural areas will be imperiled and we are not sure whether this small area will be drained or otherwise destroyed.
     It was very pleasant to find a Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria feeding in the mud which is rich in invertebrate prey.




     This species breeds right across the Nearctic region of North America and adults are already winging their way to their winter quarters in South America.



     The feeding seemed to be particularly rich with many fat worms being captured.
     The Kildeer Chardrius vociferus breeds locally and it was quite numerous, also taking advantage of the nutritious and easily captured food in the mud.





     In my last post I included a picture of a male Ebony Jewelwing Calopteryx maculata and I now include a female.



     The white wingtips which identify the female are actually pseudostigma, or false (ptero) stigma. Unlike a true stigma a pseudostigma is made up of multiple cells. In our area only female jewelwings display this character.
     Northern Leopard Frogs Lithobates pipiens seem to have had a productive breeding season and as we walked along young frogs were constantly hopping out of our way, seeking refuge in the water. 



     Blue Vervain Verbena hastata was in bloom everywhere; it is a very characteristic plant of damp thickets and roadsides and was abundant where we walked along a dirt road adjacent to wet areas.



     This area is not large but is home to a variety of organisms and we can only hope that the urban planners have recognized its value and will protect it.     



David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

24 comments:

  1. Buen reportaje David, me ha gustado mucho. Por mi pueblo también se empiezan a ver los limícolas que empiezan a bajar del norte. Un fuerte abrazo desde España.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 2 waders that would be very nice finds for a birder in Europe or Asia!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice series of pics.. Happy weekend..

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi David.

    Beautiful birds show you.
    The dragonfly and frog are also very nice.

    Groettie from Patricia.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Superb post David,love the Ebony Jewelwing,would love to see one.
    John.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If ever you visit southern Ontario at this time of the year we should be able to find one for you!

      Delete
  6. Beautiful photos David.
    I see the little ringed plover, which we have here.
    Nice week, greetings Tinie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Little Ringed Plover is a different species, Tinie, not found in North America. It is quite different, has a very prominent yellow eye ring, a quite different frontal look and only one breastband.

      Delete
  7. Lovely photos and I do love the shot of the frog. Something I do not see often in our garden as it is generally very dry especially at this time of the year! Have a good day Diane

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bonjour. David.
    Tous ces petits limicoles sont adorables. Leur plumage est très délicat et c'est toujours bon d'en observer.
    Bises. David

    ReplyDelete
  9. I wonder if your Solitary is as difficul to approach as our Green Sandpiper, in other words almost impossible. At least you have some pictures which is more than I can achieve with a Green. Nice find David.

    The answer to your questions is "No" in both cases but I do have one in another book soon I think.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Solitary Sandpiper is not the easiest bird to approach closely but it seems to be at least a little easier than Green Sandpiper.

      Delete
  10. Hi. Amazing photos. I really liked a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fabulous images of all in nature, thanks David for the pics.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dearest David,
    The photo from the Green frog stood out for me!
    Happy August to you,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great shots! I love sandpipers. Yes, the frogs are certainly plentiful this year!

    I am really not a tough broad David ;) Some days I sit and have a good cry, but I am one to make the best of any situation I find myself in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Karen: We are all entitled to the luxury of a good cry sometimes. It can be very cathartic. But it seems to me that anyone facing MS with the degree of fortitude that you are displaying would qualify as tough! My best wishes will always be with you.

      Delete
  14. Beautiful pictures of the birds, David, but I love the metallic colors of the green frog.
    Gr Jan W

    ReplyDelete
  15. lovely sandpiper ... and is that a kildeer in the middle pictures? Wonderful summer around your place! Big old frog -- my great-grandsons and I played with some tiny ones the other day and I got a few pictures -- they were about the size of one speck on your beauty!

    ReplyDelete
  16. A super post, David. I find that I'm always learning from your posts, even when the subject is one of particular interest to me. This time it's the pseudostigma information. - And that Ebony Jewelwing is fabulous!

    The frog is utterly beautiful!

    Love to you both - - Richard

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am happy to know that you learned something new, Richard!

      Delete
  17. Another splendid post and always enjoy your photos. Great find on the sandpiper and killdeer, and the ebony jewelwing and gosh, those blue wildflowers are gorgeous! Thank you so much for your kind comments on my recent posts also, very, very much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi David,
    Lovely post!
    The Leopard frog is gorgeous and resembles somewhat out Pelophylax species!
    We will see some of the migratory birds from around the 15th of august.
    Warm hugs to the both of you :)

    ReplyDelete

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

Followers