You ain't from around these parts now are ya?

[Loupey]

Two uncommon visiters (for my area and this time) arrived a few days ago. Interestingly, both at about the same time and only by themselves.

Word obviously got out. When I arrived, there were about 8 birders already there with spotting scopes and $2K binoculars. I had to ask what "the deal" was and so they were kind enough to point them out and ID them for me.

First a few of the Marbled Godwit. I swear I didn't see it when I first arrived against the water debris and it was only about 50' away. So good are they at poking into the mud and fishing out food that I wondered if it had velco on the end of its bill.

[Loupey]

The other visitor is a Semipalmated Plover.

About half the size of a Killdeer. I first thought it was a small Killdeer and the other Killdeer would even flash a display when the SP walked towards them.


All images of the marbled godwit and semipalmated plover are of the same individuals over two days. Lighting on both days was horrible.


PS: I quickly learned that the bird that topped the list for many of the birders here was the Virginia Rail. They had heard about some sightings and were quite excited about the possibility of seeing one. One birder told me she had been looking for 10 years and has never been able to mark that one off. I guess I should have stayed with the VR a little more when I shot it (without knowing what it was) last week

[Lori11]

wow, those are some awesome shots! Sounds like a fun day!

[AgingEyes]

The last one of the second group is wonderful !

[Loupey]

Lori & AgingEyes - thank you both for looking! I learned a lot by hanging out with the hardcores. I've got to hang around them more often.

They're just not very stealthy. Standing around out in the open, talking, flipping pages...

[mn shutterbug]

So, who won the tug of war, in the last shot?

[readingr]

Nice photo's Loupey.

I really like the tug of war shot.

Roger

[scott-devon]

Wonderful shots Loupey, I like the low point of view on these shots. You must end up pretty muddy getting these shots.

[Loupey]

Mike, Roger, scott-devon - thanks for looking!

That particular tug-of-war was won by the plover. I saw probably a dozen "pulls" and only one ended up in the worms favor - and only because the plover was distracted just after the worm pulled free.

The killdeer do it as well. And since they are taller, they have a more vertical (rather than backward) motion. Watching the entire field at once, it's like watching those small metal oil drilling rigs in the farm fields going up and down, up and down,...

[paulnj]

Those are some awesome images and a great find! ...... our first marbled godwit here too.

"there with spotting scopes and $2K binoculars"

I resemble that remark sometimes