Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpipers are rare here in the east. They breed in northern Canada and migrate through the Mussissippi Valley on their way south to winter in the pampas of South America. Perhaps Hurricane Harvey that struck Texas and the gulf pushed some birds of this species to the east, as a few of them have been reported here in central Virginia. One was reported yesterday afternoon at the nearby King Family Vineyards here in Crozet. Alice and I had plans for late morning and afternoon, but I decided to do a quick look there early this morning. I saw a posting that it was there along with 19 Killdeers this morning. When I got there, I saw two birders whom I know that said it had left 10 minutes before I arrived, but I decided to look in the field where they had seen it. A lone Killdeer flew as I approached, and then I got lucky. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper had returned, but only stayed about one minute, perhaps deciding to try to re-join the Killdeer flock. Lifebird # 667!
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper