I had the pleasure of observing a rowdy group of Ruddy Turnstones on the Jersey shore earlier this June. They chattered with each other and scrambled all over the wharf. At first glance they seemed to feed in a very stochastic fashion, but like many other shorebirds, they were actually very precise and deliberate with their pecking. One might say they even have a pecking order...
This shaggy gang elicited a laugh from me more than once. The way they all wanted to stay close together, and yet how they also seemed very impatient and irritated with each other...it reminded me of the Wes Anderson dysfunctional family trope that comes up in movies so often. Hopefully this photo explains the dynamic better than I can. They have to stay close to each other, but they're all looking in different directions (and one seems to be banging it's head against the rock) as if they hate to admit how inseparable they really are. So much angst...
This fine fellow (same bird as the first photo) was the patriarch. As you can see, his mustache grows right up and connects his eyebrows. Chuck Norris, John Wayne, Bear Grylls, Robert Howard, and all the other manly paragons of our age...none of them could accomplish this feat even in a hundred years even with a swimming pool full of rogaine.
He stood stoically atop his pedestal and watched over the Turnstones with all the sternness and facial patterns of a stormtrooper. He and his group brought a certain calm to the wharf, even as the waves crashed all around them. The other birds used the Turnstones as their danger-gauge. As long as the Turnstone were happy, so was everyone else. When they became startled, everyone took flight. Together they all formed a very colorful and motley gang.
I couldn't have asked for a better look at a new bird. Thank you Ruddy Turnstones, high five!
Laurence, as usual, you crack me up! And, you make me get out my dictionary! Now I have to look up the word, "stochastic!" Great shots of the birds, though you won't find me eating one anytime soon, even if it is dipped in hot fudge and caramel!
ReplyDeleteCheers Kathie : )
DeleteI probably wouldn't eat the Turnstone either, not when there were so many tasty Gulls around too. What I was reminded of when first looking at the bird was the 'Moose Tracks' ice cream flavor, which maybe (hopefully, because it's delicious!) you're familiar with.
I hope you get some ice cream and some nice birds in the near future!
Laurence, i did get some good ice cream this past weekend at Mad Maggie's in North Andover. I am familiar with Moose tracks as well but I prefer Kahlua Brownie Fudge and Coconut Almond Fudge! Have a Happy 4th!
DeleteThat's a lot of fudge! Happy 4th to you too.
Delete"swimming pool of rogaine." Nice! Great photos by the way. I think the Ruddy Turnstone has to be up there with the most cool looking shorebirds.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robert I'm glad you liked it. A lot of people hold Chuck Norris in very high regard these days, so it can be risky to take his name in vain, depending on the company.
DeleteThe Turnstone definitely turn heads on the beach! They're super colorful, and I bet they'd be held in a very high regard the world over if they weren't also pretty common, so birders weren't too over-exposed.
All the same, it's hard to think of a more fashionable beach-goer than the Ruddy Turnstone.
I think you have something here:) Get on that marketing right away. It's weird but when I saw the colors of the plumage, I thought marshmallow brownie mix:) I think the ice cream is a better sell:)
ReplyDeleteAnd describing the behavior, one would think you were talking about my family getting stuck in one room during the holiday season! Oh you should see that one.....
And the starfish...what a way to finish the post off. Great pictures!
Hmmm brownie mix in with the ice cream? We could combine the best of both worlds? I'll get on the phone with all the ice cream makers of the world later today to try and get that going.
DeleteWhen the holidays roll round' you'll have to take some family photos and we can cross-veirfy with the Turnstones. I suspect photos from some of our get-togethers will match well too : )
I'm glad you liked the starfish. I was stuck wondering what excuse I could use to post that photo cause I don't know where else it'd go. When in doubt...high five!
Ahhh....that had me laugh, "When in doubt....high five!" Very funny. My attitude is this about starfish and other other cool critters.....definitely post them with the birds. Since your focus is birds, tag them on the end....but you can't deny the cool factor of a starfish, gila monster, etc etc. There is way too much out there right now that is catching my eyes. The bug world is really something....I can't believe how many cool ones there are....and they'll be going up soon:) Have a good weekend!
DeleteThanks forward to it Chris. Thanks again for stopping by.
DeleteGreat post Laurence. I love your description of these great shorebirds. "So much angst..." made me laugh aloud.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim, it's great to have you stop by and comment. I'm glad I could relay a bit of the anxious fun that Turnstones provide, it certainly was enjoyable for me.
DeleteGreat post, Laurence!!! Loved your shots and your sitcom interpretation made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteDanke Hilke. I appreciate you stopping by and commenting.
DeleteNever even heard of it. Fantastic! Very good shots, too.
ReplyDeleteWhen are you coming to Iowa next? I about run over an Eastern Meadowlark every time I drive through my neighborhood. I notice they aren't on your list (which is already a large list). Also, I once spied a Cedar Waxwing in Oak Run and I'm going to head back up there in the next week or two and see if I can get some recent shots.
Yeah, not so anonymous. Wrong click.
ReplyDeleteIt's ok Anonymous Moe, I had a hunch...
DeleteI'm not sure when I'll be back out to Iowa, but it's been too long since I've been in the midwest and I would like to return soon to see birds and family (family and birds?).
It's funny you mentioned Eastern Meadowlarks too. That was one of the birds I figured was as good as given when I was in Pennsylvania a few weeks ago, and I saw not a one, which means I've still never seen Eastern. I don't have any photos of Westerns either. It's a bit odd since they're so common in the right spots, but when I see them it's few and far between and they always bolts right away. The missing Meadowlarks is definitely something that needs to be remediated on any self-respecting blog list of photographed birds. It is my great shame...
I've wondered from time to time how many great birds I missed up there at the lake. I just wasn't paying attention then. Waxwings are another group of birds that I've failed to photograph in any substantive way, though to be fair it's unusual to see them down here.
When are you coming to visit Arizona for birds and brews and stuff?
Ruddy Turnstones do have truly enviable facial hair. I once rocked the Chester A. Arthur look for the 4th of July, but it seems paltry in comparison now.
ReplyDeleteSuper series!
Thanks Nicholas. I would like to see photos of that some day. I have mixed feelings on his presidency, but the man's prodigious facial hair cannot be denied!
DeleteI do agree, Turnstones are quite amusing to watch! They often remind me of angry teenagers looking for something they can't find the way they throw things around. I'm thinking the ice cream will need to include peanut butter...
ReplyDeleteGood call on the peanut butter.
DeleteYou're exactly right. They come off like teenagers in a messy room. I can kinda relate...
Thanks for stopping by Tammy.
I love Ruddy's!!!!! Out here we usually only seen one or two mixed in with piles of Blacks. Mmmm ice cream....
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great way to view em', that way they're not overly common/exposed.
DeleteI am now picturing a big pile of Black Turnstones. It's fun.
Turnstones are fantastic shorebirds Laurence and you descibe them very well! Love all of the images including the star fish.
ReplyDeleteI think the ice cream would need a touch of mocha flavoring in it.
Hmm mocha is an interesting addition. It definitely fits the color palette and would gel well with the others. Good call!
DeleteI'm going to quickly get a patent on the Turnstone Sundae! Beautiful photos and captivating narrative as usual, Laurence.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Ken. You'll need to find someone to do an appropriate label too. That could be fun.
DeleteAlways a smile when I read your blog :) Another wonderful post! Beautiful bird and descriptions ... very creative!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie, it's always great to have you stop by the ol' place.
Delete