A Little Bird Making a Big Splash ~ The Spotted Sandpiper!
I always enjoy sharing my bird photographs on my Facebook Page. I’ve cataloged quite a few in albums by species and by location. Not every photograph evokes an emotional response by people. Occasionally some do and it’s fun to hear from friends and followers when that happens.
The other day Jen and I were enjoying a perfect spring afternoon down at our local beach along the James River; at the same time a tiny little bird was enjoying running up and down along the water’s edge. Its tail was bobbing up and down as it walked and it had spots all over its white underside. It seemed quite comfortable with us being there and almost seemed like it was showing off its fancy feathers. As it searched the sand for something good to eat, I wondered what kind of bird it was?
Identifying it was easy. The bobbing tail, long beak, and spots gave it away. Here is what I discovered when I looked it up on the site allaboutbirds: The dapper Spotted Sandpiper makes a great ambassador for the notoriously difficult-to-identify shorebirds.They occur all across North America, they are distinctive in both looks and actions, and they're handsome.They also have intriguing social lives in which females take the lead and males raise the young. With their richly spotted breeding plumage, teetering gait, stuttering wingbeats, and showy courtship dances, this bird is among the most notable and memorable shorebirds in North America.
I took a number of pictures of it before it decided it was time to move on. When I posted this first picture on Facebook, it received quite a few likes and some nice comments. It made quite a splash for such a little bird. ☺
I thought I’d share a few other pics of this handsome Spotted Sandpiper, all taken that afternoon on the beach. This fine specimen could possibly go from camera to canvas one day!
Thanks for reading my journal and for your interest in my art and photography. If you’d like to see my many albums of bird photographs please check out my Facebook Page and like it if you feel so inclined. ☺
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion...”
What's next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe