Chirps and Cheeps

A quick trip up to a sod farm in Ontario late this afternoon brought the expected Killdeer along with a little group of Black-bellied Plovers and Pectoral Sandpipers.  We were hoping to find the reported Buff-breasted Sandpiper there too, but alas, he must have flown out, continuing his migration.

The plovers were in various changes of molt, with one male still showing some of his fine breeding plumage.

We were able to get fairly close to one of the Pectoral Sandpipers by slowly advancing several steps at a time.

A couple of days later, at the Batavia Waste Water Treatment Plant, I found another Pectoral Sandpiper. From the cover of my car, I was able to sneak a few photos while he foraged from the rocks along the shore.

After the water treatment plant, I scouted out other sod farms in Batavia, finding yet another couple of Pectoral Sandpipers among many Killdeer.  No Buff-breasteds there, though, either.  One of these days / months / years, I hope to get one!