Nature clicks #231 - Semipalmated Sandpiper (?)

This Semipalmated Sandpiper should be in the lower Arctic regions by now, where it usually breeds during the summer. Nobody probably knows what inflicted the large wound below its left wing. This could be the reason that the little guy was left behind during migration. It may have been a bird of prey or any other predator the sandpiper maybe managed to escape from. However, it seemed to do OK and the bird enjoyed a bath and the following drying and preening process of its feathers at the boat launch of Finley’s Landing at the Mississippi.

As always, sandpipers are not easy to identify (at least for me). There are many combinations of feather patterns and color changes, and that’s why I put a question mark behind its name in the headline of my post. If you have another idea, please let me know. I’m always open for suggestions and like to learn the differences.

Nature clicks #154 - Spotted Sandpiper

 

This image is already almost a week old but posting about the foxes and the owl put some of the other birds I saw lately a little bit on the back-burner.

The Spotted Sandpiper is not an uncommon bird but for me it was another first sighting here at the Mississippi. At least I have never identified one before. It moved fast along the river shore in constant search for insects, worms, or even little fish. I admit, it isn't a tack-sharp photo but foreground and background are ok. Usually the shore is a cluttered mess of stones, drift wood, and sometimes even garbage but when the sandpiper started walking on this log in the water I thought I have my chance to make a good click.

Nature clicks #144 - Lesser Yellowleg

 

The Lesser Yellowlegs have their breeding grounds in Northern Canada and Alaska. We have this sandpiper here in Iowa only during migration. Last Sunday I shot pictures from noon until after 6PM. As always the quality of light gets so much better in the late afternoon and early evening and that's why I show you a couple images that were made closer to the end of daylight. They feed on aquatic insects and other invertebrates and they move permanently and probe with their long bill in the water. That means a lot of shots are slightly blurry and end up in the trash can of my Mac. It is all about peak of action, the brief moments between steps or when they lift their heads for a fraction of a second, when you can make the click. Setting the camera to 7 frames per second helps to freeze the right moment. I have a lot more to come from my shooting in the wetlands, so please come back here and check it out.

Nature clicks #93 - Lesser Yellowlegs

Nikon D300s, Sigma 50-500mm / f4.5-6.3 APO DG HSM

The Lesser Yellowlegs are on the way to their breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. I shot lots of pictures of these members of the sandpiper family last Sunday. I'm happy that I was able to watch them because they will not stay here in Eastern Iowa too long.

Nikon D300s, Sigma 50-500mm / f4.5-6.3 APO DG HSM

The Lesser Yellowlegs were constantly in search for food in the shallow water and on the mud banks. I saw some of them even catching small fish. They take their prey with the thin bill and bob the front part of their bodies in a jerky fashion. This makes it quite difficult to get a clean shot because they hardly stop feeding or cleaning their bodies.

Nikon D300s, Sigma 50-500mm / f4.5-6.3 APO DG HSM