| Prior to my business trip to Santa Monica, California in January 2005, I had only seen a few Surfbirds, a rocky tundra nesting shorebird that visits the western continental U.S. in winter. I had not prepared for this trip as I would for a true birding vacation, so I was surprised and delighted to find dozens of this species on the beach as I enjoyed my only afternoon off. Although generally considered a bird of rocky shores in winter, in this case the Surfbirds clearly were willing to make do with the sandy beach at hand. |
| My next encounter with Surfbirds, almost exactly a year later, offered considerably better filming conditions. In January of 2006 I found two small flocks of "rockpipers" along Alki Beach in West Seattle. The profile below nicely captures the winter plumage of this handsome bird, including the two-tone bill and bright yellow legs. |
| Alki Beach has a narrow rocky shore running parallel to a somwhat busy pedestrian walkway, and the birds there seemed somewhat acclimated to human presence, allowing very close approach. I love the detail in the image below, captured from only a few feet away. I have not read any literature regarding shorebirds' habit of perching on one leg, but I wonder if the behavior keeps the exposed bare parts from getting too cold (presumably it would therefore alternate legs). |
| The image below shows a Surfbird and a Black Turnstone both huddling up on a very cold and windy day. Although the birds have tucked in their bills (again, presumably to keep them warm), they both seem to be keeping an eye on me. In other frames I captured the birds closing their nictating membranes over their eyes as surf crashed against the rocks. I am always amazed at the physical and behavioral modifications that allow birds to occupy even the most inhospitable habitats! |
| Copyright© Ken Allaire. All rights reserved. Reproduction, modification, or republication of the images or content contained herein without authorization for any purpose or to produce any product is a violation of the copyright herein and is strictly prohibited. |