Least Sandpiper

For all you people who have never seen one of these guys, like me, I somehow had the idea from seeing other posts here, that they were the size of maybe a chicken with long legs. Boy, was I surprised. They are just a bit bigger than a sparrow, not counting the legs. Really.

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Mitch, your series is so reminiscent of a series I took a few weeks ago of a group of Greater Yellowlegs. They were mucking around in the shallow water constantly submerging their bills for food. From your description it sounds like the Least Sandpiper is a very small bird. I would say the Greater Yellowlegs were 8 -10 inches tall. Excellent habitat series!

Thanks Dennis. These guys are very small. The body is about sparrow size, maybe a bit bigger. I almost didn't see them. All I saw were some dots moving til I looked through the lens. There were also some Lesser Yellowlegs with them that are about the body size of a Starling. I expected a much bigger bird.

Nice shots! You saw these up in Wisconsin??? I don't see these here!
Karen

Thanks Karen. Wisconsin side of the River. Minnesota is just across the river. And yes, I was quite amazed to see them, as I thought these were ocean shore birds. And I still can't get over the tiny size of these guys. After looking at Georges shots of his shore birds, I thought they were like Chicken sized. Hard to tell size from a picture with no references.

I happened to be shooting Cliff Swallows gathering mud in this spot and did not see them for ten minutes or more, then I saw a dot move. I could only tell they were birds after looking through the Bigma. Look for tiny, tiny birds.

Excellent series.

Great series of shots

I love looking at your posts Mitch... you sure have an interesting 'neighbourhood' for wildlife
also must add that I had a good look at your site a few weeks ago, and its great
keep up the good work
Chris

Thanks Dan, Calico and Chris. Chris, I just got back from one of the wetlands parks here in town and got 4 or 5 new life list birds in an hour or so. The amount of wildlife around here is phenominal.

I'm glad you liked the site. I just updated and added another galley to the slideshow the other day. It's hard to find the time to keep after it.

More good stuff from you Mitch. Looking forward to more.

Thanks Keith. I struck gold in the other wetlands park today. Editing the images now. Got some yellow headed blackbirds, a moorhen and some new swallow. Man, I can't believe all the birds here now. Might have to break out the digiscope again.

Nice shots Mitch! I like the group shot the most. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Grizz. They are cute little things. I couldn't believe my eyes when saw several close together.