On the beach in Discovery Park in Seattle, WA I got my first Western Sandpiper of the year while it was hanging out with the Dunlin on the left. I also saw my first Semipalmated Plover of the year hiding among the Killdeer. These two birds put me at 226 for the year.
Although seeing the birds was great, the most entertaining part of my morning hike was an older man asking for directions and then saying, "Thank you young man." Oh my family got a kick out of that one when I got home. They all asked me how old was this guy that he thought you were a young man. I suggested perhaps my bucket hat and other fashion choices had given the impression of me being a much younger man.
Here are some other photos from the walk in Discovery park.
The Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) is a small shorebird renowned for its extensive migratory journeys between its breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra of western Alaska and eastern Siberia, and its wintering sites along the coasts of Central and South America. Measuring about 6.3 to 6.7 inches in length, this petite bird exhibits a striking rufous plumage during the breeding season and a more subdued grayish-brown appearance in the non-breeding season. Key identification features include its slightly decurved bill and black legs. These birds are highly social and often forage in large, mixed-species flocks on coastal wetlands, mudflats, and estuaries, feeding primarily on invertebrates.
Breeding occurs in the short Arctic summer, with males establishing territories and performing aerial displays to attract females. After selecting a nest site, females lay a clutch of typically four eggs, which both parents incubate. The chicks, born precocial, are ready to leave the nest and forage shortly after hatching. Classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN, the Western Sandpiper faces threats from habitat loss, climate change, and human disturbance. Conservation efforts focus on protecting crucial stopover and wintering sites to ensure the species' long-term survival.
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