Spotted Sandpiper

It's not too often you get such a good chance to photograph a Spotted Sandpiper. They are very wary of being approached. They like to fly off a short distance when anyone is near with their distinctive and extremely rapid flap-glide flight. They're usually present at Stratford Point in low numbers for a few months of the year, with more being seen in fall migration (as it is prolonged with young of the year coming through, too). 

This one had the remains of...what do you think? It looks like it may be part of a horseshoe crab. Many of our shorebird species feed on horseshoe crab eggs with hundreds of thousands of individuals or potentially millions relying on that meal in migration on the Atlantic seaboard. Perhaps this bird was lucky to find more than eggs.

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
RTPI Manager of Connecticut Programs