Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Word Bird Wednesday

It's Wednesday--well, Tuesday night-- and that can mean only one thing---Word Bird Wednesday with Springman over at The Pine River Review!  So, grab your camera, your love of birds and your desire to see some great pictures from all around the world and join us!


Here are the shots I saved for WBW from my walk on the beach with Birdie (DD3) and the dogs. 

This laughing gull was not worried about us being so close as he was concentrating on his breakfast.  Apparently, he is dressed in his winter plumage.  According to BIRDS OF THE CAROLINAS, their heads are black in the summer and molt to mostly white in the winter. 
This is a sanderling.  There were, what appeared to be, hundreds of them on the beach.  They were very entertaining as they ran back and forth following the coming and going of each incoming wave.  When a wave would retreat, the sanderlings would probe the wet sand for their breakfast.  As another wave came in, they would scurry away.  Quite the sight!
The sanderling taking off.
Just a few of the numerous sanderling groups out there that day.
My best guess on this pretty bird is a willet. 
This is the willet in flight.  I'm using that white stripe on his wings to help with identification.
The laughing gull coming back for more.



22 comments:

Ruth Hiebert said...

Fantastic images.That is most definitely a Willet.

holdingmoments said...

I love those Sanderlings.
We get them here, running and dodging the waves on the shore. Great to watch.
That's quite a breakfast the Laughing Gull has!

BB said...

Great shots! Glad someone else likes to take bird pictures as much as we do.

Unknown said...

Great action shots!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

joco said...

How I envy you those wonderful sessions by the water.

theconstantwalker said...

Congratulations on your great flight shots of some beautiful birds.

Springman said...

I envy you your light! You sure took good advantage of it by capturing these great pictures. By the way, your Pelican limerick on the previous post is hysterically funny. Great stuff! ;-)WBW

mick said...

Great photos of all the birds. We get Sanderlings down here in SE Queensland Australia - but I have never seen as many as that at one time. Wish I could see your Willet!

jeanlivingsimple said...

I LOVE all your captures! Am I jealous???...You bet!

Empty Nester said...

Thanks so much for the wonderful comments! It is nice to have the beach only 5 minutes from the house. I'm pretty sure that's what keeps us here! That and the fact that the ocean air gets in your blood somehow.

Marcia said...

Wow you do live close to the beach.

Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog. As to the squirrel proof feeders I have two Squirrel Buster Plus made by www.bromebirdcare.com. They hang from long hooks in the trees. The third feeder is on a hook in the ground that has a squirrel baffle. I have plenty of squirrels but they can't get into the feeders. Good luck with your feeders.

Sondra said...

Great birds the water looks awesome too! I love the top photo of the gull soaring with his beak full--excellent shots!!

Empty Nester said...

Marcia- Thanks so much for sharing the website. I'll try anything!

Dixxe, thanks! I'm off to your site now!

tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.com said...

I don`t know the names of many sea birds,these are beautiful pictures.It`s fun to learn what sorts of birds we have & where they are!
I love your seashells & starfish picture too,phylliso

C'est la Vie said...

your pictures are lovely!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Wonderful shore birds! I love them all. Thanks for sharing. (You live in a wonderful place for birding!)

Empty Nester said...

Thanks y'all! It is nice living here most of the time. And then the heat kicks in. And the tourists. And then there are the drivers---no where to go and all day to get there...LOL

JJ said...

I lived in South Carolina years ago, and the birds along the coast were some of the coolest I have ever seen. In New Hampshire, we used to get many varieties of Woodpeckers that were very colorful. Now that we reside in Florida, we enjoy species such as you have posted. Gotta love birds!

Red Nomad OZ said...

There's some birds in common with Australia - gulls (although not laughing!) and sanderlings!!

Great pix! Have a lovely weekend!

eileeninmd said...

I love the cute Sanderlings. Great shot of the Willet in flight.

Empty Nester said...

JJ- where were you in SC? I have a niece in NH- what she gets is a lot of SNOW and we don't get a drop...LOL

Red- The sanderlings are so cute, aren't they?

Eileen- I love the sanderlings too!

Coupon Queen said...

Wow do you ever take great photos!! I love taking bird pictures myself so this is a fun blog for me. :) Thanks for stopping by my blog, I am now a follower of yours so I can see all the birds and beach pictures. Sure wish we had warm weather with open water up here in Northern Minnesota! Thanks for sharing these, have a great week.