More Red Knots, White-rumped Sandpipers, PIPL

Red Knot (Calidrus canutus) and White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidrus fuscicollis) at Francis Street spit of Milford Point of 12 June 13.  Both species are unusual during most of June in this location, and they were feeding together near NE edge of spit where Horseshoe Crabs had been laying eggs, a crucial food for Red Knot and probably WRSA.  Most of the WRSAs had the usual orange brown at the base of the lower mandible, not not all of them (there were at least 3, but most likely 5 WRSAs).

Ring-billed Gull joins WRSA and Red Knot, for size comparison

PIPL chick, lower left corner, Francis St spit 6/12/13, prob born 5/26/13, so 18 days old

PIPL chick, cryptic, Francis St spit

PIPL digging deep

Red Knot, note serrated bill

Francis St spit, guarding chicks

left, WRSA, contrast with bird on right, both WRSAs by primary projection, overall structure

REKN and WRSA 6/12/13 Francis St spit

2 WRSAs,  REKN  6/12/13 Francis St spit

WRSA, all dark bill, but long primary projection