So off I went equipped with the scope set up and the trusty 400/5.6. And I wasn't dissappointed. After almost a year in Norway, I finally saw my Purple Sandpiper.
From Wikipedia,
"Adults have short yellow legs and a medium thin dark bill with a yellow base. The body is dark on top with a slight purplish gloss and mainly white underneath. The breast is smeared with grey and the rump is black. They measure 20–22 cm (7.9–8.7 in) in length and 42–46 cm (17–18 in) across the wings, and weight is from 50–105 g (1.8–3.7 oz).[2]
Their breeding habitat is the northern tundra on Arctic islands in Canada and coastal areas in Greenland and northwestern Europe. They nest on the ground either elevated on rocks or in lower damp location. The males makes several scrapes; the female choose one and lays 3 or 4 eggs. The male takes the major responsibility for incubation and tends the chicks. The young feed themselves."
Purple Sandpiper / Fjaereplytt / Calidris maritima
The nice part was that these birds weren't as easily spooked as some of the other waders I've observed, they were tolerating my presence long enough to make some proper shots of them. I actually followed a flock as it foraged along the rocky shores passed the lighthouse. I was glad that when they finally all took off, it was the dog that scared them away. It was an exhilarating morning to say the least.
No comments:
Post a Comment