Pic of the Day

Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres, in winter plumage, stretching:

Dunedin Causeway to Honey Moon Island, Florida

Pic of the Day

Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa:  Dunedin Causeway; Honey Moon Island, Florida

     I watched two Marbled Godwits for almost an hour as they were feeding in the incoming tide along the Dunedin Causeway.  After feeding, the birds moved to the shoreline and began to preen.  I captured this image as one of the godwits twisted its head and turned its bill upward.  Though a strange pose, notice the flexibility of the upper mandible.  Shorebirds bills are very nimble, a necessary trait for probing the sand for crustaceans.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/4000 second @ f/8

Pic of the Day

Short-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus:

Dunedin Causeway to Honey Moon Island, Florida

     I heard about the Dunedin Causeway while shooting at Fort Desoto State Park.  It sounded like a great place, but I was on my way south and decided I would make that stop on another trip.  However, while on the east coast of Florida and one day left on my trip I decided to drive across the state and check out Dunedin.  I am so happy I did!  There were a lot of shorebirds on the causeway, Turnstones, Sanderlings, Short-billed Dowitchers, Willets, Dunlins, Black-bellied Plovers and Marbled Godwits.  This shot this image as the dowitcher briefly raised it's head while probing the debris of the wrack line.  What do I like about this image?  That it raised its right leg and hind toe sticking our from its foot.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/1000 second @ f/8