[Birdnet] Peeping at a Semi-palmated Sandpiper

[Kristin Purdy]

This morning I visited Glover Ponds at the west end of Glover Lane in Davis County and saw a lone peep, a SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, on a dried mudflat/playa area just east of the ponds and south of Glover Lane. I hadn't yet made the turn at the west end of the road (about 75 feet further west) and I was scoping slightly southwest in the direction of the heron trees. 

This was an outstanding study opportunity as the sandpiper was perhaps 50-75 yards away. Although it was the only sandpiper present, several Killdeer were there for size comparison. The Killdeer passed behind the peep at a distance of about a foot. As seen against the backdrop of the Killdeer, the sandpiper's back barely met the horizontal line on the Killdeer where the white side/belly feathers meet the brown/rufous wings. The Killdeer also obliged my study needs by chasing the little guy so it changed position, flared its wings, etc. I peeped at the piper for about a half hour with a spotting scope.

The sandpiper was an adult as evidenced by the black retained alternate wing coverts, giving an irregular black spotted look to an otherwise washed-out brownish wing and back area. All other field marks were present to distinguish the bird from its peep cousins.

The Pied-billed Grebe families at Glover Ponds are offering excellent entertainment right now. The young birds are still sporting their black-and-white zebra-striped heads, orange bills, and an orange/buffy stripe at the backs of their heads. They are quite colorful and quite insistent that the parent they trail through the water should feed them. 

The ponds didn't have a lot of other activity besides the birds mentioned above.

To reach Glover Ponds, take I-15 to exit 319 in Centerville and turn east. Immediately turn left (north) onto the frontage road (Market Place Drive). Drive 3 miles north and turn left (west) on Glover's Lane. Drive several miles west until the road ends near the ponds and radar tower.

Kris
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