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Monday, December 12, 2011

Shorebirds and American Pipit on Salmon Creek Beach

Beautiful views of shorebirds on Salmon Creek Beach today.  At low tide they feed on the tidal flats in Bodega Harbor, but during the highest tides flocks of sandpipers and plovers can be seen roosting on the outer beach.

Black-bellied Plovers roosting among driftwood (they only have black bellies in breeding plumage during the spring/summer/fall).



Black-bellied Plover in front of a flock of Dunlin.



Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin for size comparison.



Western Sandpiper


Flock of shorebirds against the waves.



American Pipit feeding on flies among piles of drift algae and eelgrass.  Pipits are one of the most common songbirds on the beach during the winter.

1 comment:

Philip said...

I am really enjoying your blog. I am beginning to feel like a resident of Bodega Head. Can't wait to see what happens next.