Thursday, June 7, 2012

Purple Haze

Yesterday Maria and I went to the beach along her sister Rose and brother Max. Since I was driving, it was a bit of a catastrophe to get there, but all in all it was a lovely day. We went to Barnegat Bay and hung out near the famous old lighthouse on the northeast tip of Long Island Beach. The sea breeze and sound of breaking waves--these are things no person should go without for too long, and it was very nice to walk along sandy shores again.

The birding in the area was also exceptional, at least for an Arizonan like myself. I photographed a lot of new species, but perhaps none more interesting than this Purple Sandpiper.


I thought I recognized the bird, but having very little experience with shorebird IDs, I didn't think much on the matter while at the beach. It was only while entering my sightings into eBird that the little flag shot up. These birds winter along the Atlantic coast, but it is pretty unusual to see one still lingering in June.


Thus, I am only left to conclude that this Purple Sandpiper waited around expressly for me to come and see him, which was very cordial of the stout little shorebird. It's a beautiful species, and it was a pleasure to watch him scuttle and forage along the rocky wharf with a dexterity I could not manage even in my dreams.

On this third photo, I can actually see and appreciate the subtle purple coloration on the feathers, which I'll admit escaped me while observing the bird in person.


I believe this second bird is a juvenile Purple Sandpiper. I'll admit, I was hoping it was another new species, but it matches petty closely with other photos I cross-referenced online.


I originally thought this bird below was a precocious youngster. I received some insightful feedback (here's to you, Seagull Steve) though that leads me to believe it is, in fact, a Purple Sandpiper in its breeding plumage. Left to my own devices, I am embarrassed to say I would've assumed the Purple Sandpiper to get more purply when its breeding time. All the same, this makes me feel even more lucky.


The Purple Sandpiper is referred to as a bird of extremes. It likes to feed near breaking waves, and it winters farther north than any other shorebird. I guess this pair wanted to prove that they were indeed extreme, but by no means predictable. Now they're going to stick it out through June longer than any other arctic breeder, so ha!

17 comments:

  1. Amazing photos. That purplish look in the third photo is awesome.

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    1. Thanks Moe. It was a great bit of luck. This may be one of the best 'new bird' sightings I've yet had, and to make it all the sweeter the Purple Sandpiper is rare in NJ this time of year.

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  2. Laurence, you got magnificent photos and a far better view of this sandpiper than I have had as yet! It sounds like you are having a birding blast! I was amazed to see that bit of purple in the feathers. Wow! thanks for showing me!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Kathie. This bird was a real beaut. I only noticed that nice, subtle purple in the photos, and from what I was reading it's very difficult to see, so I consider myself pretty lucky here!

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  3. That's a cool looking bird, congrats! Have fun over there.

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    1. Yes, I was having shore/beach bird overload in New Jersey. I hope my heart survives all the heart attacks to make it back to Arizona : )

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  4. Purple Sandpipers! In JUNE!!!! Great birds, great find...a species I have looked for and failed to see. I still don't see any purple though.

    I think the second one is a breeding plumaged adult (the first is in basic); I don't think juveniles would be out of the nest yet.

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    1. Darn! I new I wouldn't get away with an error-free, shorebird-related post while you're on the prowl.

      I appreciate the point though. I kinda figured that these guys were bucking the trend in everything else, maybe one was a super prodigious precocious youngster too. It seemed odd that one bird would be nearly full on in breeding plumage while the other is being all abstinent. Maybe it was a she and she was holding out until he promised to take her away on a romantic trip to the arctic. I assumed that Purple Sandpipers became more purply when it was frisky time (what a sap). In pursuit of your point though I cross-referenced things online and it seems you are, indeedity deed, correct, which seems to often be the case Mr. No. 7 birder...

      Thanks for stopping by and weighing in with your 30 years of wisdom.

      You can kinda see the purple in the rachis on the back feathers on the third photo.

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  5. Awesome sandpipers! But I am way more distracted by the fact that you are/were at the Jersey shore... Where are the photos of Snookie???

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    1. That is a fair question Jen. I heard a rumor that Snookie stayed far away from Barnegat Bay, home of a famous old lighthouse, because she, "Don't be goin' near nothing that can be bigger n' me!" Also, she might've been having a baby or something. It is also possible that the Gulls carried her away and made her their queen. Anyway, the wild, rare, and often endangered Snookie was one chick I did not add to my list.

      So, if you're holding out for some Snookilicious photos, I must disappoint you. You best head to the NJ coast yourself to get that lifer!

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    2. Haha, fair enough, I forgot she done got herself knocked up!

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  6. The Purple Sandpiper is beautiful! Excellent shots, Laurence!!

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    1. Thanks Tammy. Now If I can only find the Red, Blue, Orange, and Puce Sandpipers...

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  7. Lovely blog and many great photos!
    Well done!

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    1. Thank you Noushka. Your blog is full of amazing photos, and of some truly incredible species seldom seen in the North American bird blogosphere. Thanks for stopping by.

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  8. Great close ups!! I really like the first....the detail is wonderful. I imagine the seabirds to be a bit different from our side of the world:) That would be fun!

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    1. Thank you Rohrerbot. The diversity in size, shape, and coloring of the shorebirds is amazing, even more so because so many of them still look so similar.

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