Birdy Days!

Fall Migration has begun. Many shorebirds are already heading south, including this Semi-palmated Plover that stopped for a rest on Canatara beach.

Semi-palmated Plovers look like miniature Killdeer, but with only one black band across the breast. They stop and start quickly as they run along searching for food. and tend to stick to mudflats, sandbars and fields, rather than steep or rocky beaches.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Semipalmated_Plover/overview

Baird's Sandpipers are often nicknamed "grass pipers" because of their tendency to forage in drier, more vegetated habitats than many shorebirds.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bairds_Sandpiper/overview

Greater Yellowlegs

The Sanderling is one of the world's most widespread shorebirds. Though they nest only in the High Arctic, in fall and winter they can be found on nearly all temperate and tropical beaches through the world!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sanderling/overview

The Caspian Tern is found around the globe and is the largest Tern in the world. Caspian Terns got their name because early ornithologists associated them with the Caspian Sea where the species is fairly common. This individual hovered over Lake Chipican in Canatara Park recently.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Caspian_Tern/overview

Mallard Duckling stretch, earlier in the summer. These birds may or may not migrate, depending upon available food supplies.

Indigo Buntings migrate at night, using the stars for guidance. Researchers demonstrated this process in the late 1960's by studying captive Indigo Buntings in a planetarium and then the the natural night sky. The birds possess an internal clock that enables them to continually adjust their angle of orientation to a star, even as the star moves through the night sky!!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Indigo_Bunting/overview

A male Northern Cardinal blends in perfectly with the Staghorn Sumac! They can be found year round in their breeding area.

At least one Great Egret has been spending time in Canatara. We usually don't see them hunting for food in the park until late summer. This individual took a rest in a tree top after having some food.