Leonard's Pond, VA, 12/14/15

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

There was a report of two Baird's Sandpipers seen yesterday afternoon at Leonard's Pond in southern Rockingham County. Even though the forecast was for rain today, and there was light off/on drizzle this morning, this species would have been a life bird for me. I contacted Walt Childs, and he went along with me to see if the Baird's Sandpipers were still there.

When we arrived, there was a lone sandpiper and a couple of Killdeers near the road. But this sandpiper looked more like a Dunlin to me. Dunlins are a rare bird in this part of Virginia. I got off a few photos before a large truck drove by, and a good number of birds, mostly Killdeers, flew to the far side of the pond.


Dunlin


Dunlin


Dunlin


Dunlin

We now were able to see three Dunlins at the far side of the pond, along with quite a few Killdeers. The birder who posted the Baird's Sandpipers showed up, and said these Dunlins looked a lot like the sandpipers she had seen the day before, so perhaps they were Dunlins as well.


Dunlin and Killdeers


Dunlin and Killdeer


Dunlins

A short while later, the Dunlins and Killdeers flew about halfway back to where we were watching them.


Dunlin and Killdeers


Dunlin and Killdeers

The wind picked up and it started to rain, so we headed for home. Along the way we saw a few American Kestrels and two Red-tailed Hawks.


Red-tailed Hawk


Red-tailed Hawk



E-mail comments on this report


Return to blog page home