While I’ve been able to get out and bird most days this last week, the birding has been kind of slow. My lists show anywhere from 40-45 birds seen each day but there have been no new birds for my Photographic Big Year Challenge.
(Clicking on any picture will optimize the shot for your screen size)

Sanderling … This is a first year bird based on his plumage. He walked right up to where I was sitting as if to investigate me!
I went to the beach this morning and was happy to see a couple of Ruddy Turnstones and a Sanderling foraging along the wrack line. I have not had any for a month or so and hope this is another sign of the progression of Fall.
The two Ruddy Turnstones that I saw were both still in breeding plumage. They were busily flipping over everything they could find hoping for a morsel of food.
I took this portrait of a Turnstone this morning and thought to myself that I need to start a new file titled “Mug-shots”.

Praire Warbler … I love all the birds but if I had to chose just one group to photograph it would be the Warblers. They are such a challenge because of their speed but so worth it when you catch one just right.
Yesterday birding at Green Cay with my birding buddy Linda we saw a grand total of one Warbler. I was very lucky first in that Linda spotted it and second that he posed for me! We also saw a Mother Black-bellied Whistling Duck with 4 very young babies and this juvenile Purple Gallinule.
Tomorrow I hope to add a couple of year birds in the Agricultural Fields. I still need Upland Sandpiper, Wilson’s Phalarope and Bank Swallow of which all have been seen lately … just not by me.
Thank you for visiting … I do appreciate it!
As always, great shots!