A variety of shorebirds

Dowitcher and Stilt in flight

Yawn

I have to say that I have not done a ton a shorebird watching,  but this season I've noticed that dowitchers often to do this right after untucking themselves from a roosting position.


That photo does not quite capture the maximum 'yawn', but when seen it really emphasizes the flexibility of the tip of their long, sensitive bills.


Not to mention their extremely long tongues...

Deep water feeding

The awkward preening of a Dowitcher

More LBDO

The only thing I really have time to take photos of during work, LBDO releases...

Me&LBDO

D&D

Tagged Dowitcher Release

I've been to Los Banos

Alright, I'm back. I've been computerless in Los Banos, CA for about two weeks now. Working for Point Blue again, I now spend my days in the wetlands of the San Joaquin Valley trapping wintering shorebirds, banding and attaching radio transmitters to them in an attempt to gain a better understanding of their habitat use and needs during this time of their life cycle.

We are specifically targeting Long-billed Dowitchers and Dunlin.

However, there are the occasional peep by-catches, this one being a Western Sandpiper, I believe, though our most common are Least.

As well as this Yellowlegs

The second team of trappers spend most of their time up in the rice fields of the Sacramento Valley, looking a little something like this.

Whereas, this is our typical morning scenery.