4/2/15, PIPL mating Milford Point

Piping Plover mating on the main sand bar at Milford Point.  Most PIPL have paired off, and there seem to be 6 or 7 pairs from Sand St at Cedar Beach to the western part of the main sandbar.  Below, a photo of the male at the end of his goose-stepping before he mounts the female.  This photo seems to capture the male actually kicking the female's flank just before he mounts--a behavior we have seen often while videoing mating PIPL over the past 5 years.

Male PIPL's final kick/goosestep before mounting, 4/2/15 Milford Pt