A Lifer for Me – Pectoral Sandpiper at Farmington Bay WMA

Pectoral Sandpiper in morning light – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

It isn’t every day that I add a lifer to the list of shorebirds I have seen and photographed but yesterday I did when I saw and photographed a Pectoral Sandpiper. According to eBird Pectoral Sandpipers are rare at Farmington Bay WMA.

Alert Pectoral Sandpiper – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Pectoral Sandpipers breed in northern Alaska, northern Yukon, Northern Territories and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in North America, they also breed in Russia. Their wintering grounds are on the pampas of Southern South America which means they can travel up to 30,000 miles each year.

Pectoral Sandpiper at Farmington Bay WMA – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 320, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This Pectoral Sandpiper was associating with Killdeer, a few Greater Yellowlegs and a single Western Sandpiper when I first saw it but it very quickly moved away across the shallow water…

Pectoral Sandpiper in a marshy area of Farmington Bay – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 320, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

And took cover in some grasses before it flew away. I believe this is a hatch year bird but since I am not familiar with this species I could be wrong. I wish this bird luck on its long migration!

As I am fond of saying “You’ll never know (what you will see) unless you go”.

I shipped my Nikon D810 to Los Angeles yesterday and I am keeping my fingers crossed that they get the rubber replaced on the memory card door and get it back to me quickly!

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my shorebird photos.