Sanderlings, Yellowlegs and Dunlins, oh my!

Since it's fall, it's time for yet another bird survey. Today I visited the south shore of Fort Pickens, which was overrun with hundreds of sanderlings (SAND)...



There were several yellowlegs (LEYE) hanging around the north shore ponds. Can you tell how they got their name?



From time to time, a dunlin (DUNL) ran about with the sanderlings as well. They're down curved beak and darker coloring are quick cues to their presence in a mass of feeding, or warming, sanderlings and plovers.



There were egrets and herons running around as well...



Most of the day, however, was dedicated to the feeding sanderlings.



They're the little sewing machines of the beach, tearing up the sand as they hunt for tiny crustaceans underneath...



They must swallow lots of sand as well -- just look at that beak! (If you click on the image to enlarge, it's easier to see.)



They pause from time to time when they are rudely interrupted by an approaching wave...



or taking time out for a nap, but these breaks are rare.



Ever industrious, they keep us busy as we try to remember which individuals we've already counted, and which simply won't stay still. Imagine a flock of 70 or so, running back and forth as the waves wash the beach, like little perpetual motion machines. Sometimes the best count we can get is an educated guess!

Foggy Morning

The day started gray and dreary, shrouded in mist. Once the sun rose though, the scene changed completely - it was a stunning warm fall day.



I was happy to have some company on the beach this morning from the park. Our program assistant, Rhonda, joined me at Perdido Key for a bird survey. I'm not sure if I bored her to tears or not, but it was nice to have someone to talk to other than the birds. Though they are pretty to look at, they aren't very good conversationalists!

The light early today wasn't very good, so I didn't take many photos, but I still took a few tests shots, just looking for a good image in poor light, or shooting a species we don't have good images of in our files.



This snowy egret almost fades into the sea behind it in the gray morning.



Just a few minutes later, the sun peeked out from behind it's shroud so we could capture some images of dunlin (DUNL) feeding south of Spanish Cove.



An obstinate brown pelican (BRPE) kept trying to balance on the edge of a metal sign. How crazy is that? He wasn't getting a nice nap like his friends on the wood pilings.



Once we reached the east end, the fog and clouds had completely burned away in the midday sun, leaving a perfect view of the Pensacola lighthouse... Just another day in paradise :)