Tag Archives: dunlin

A birding stop today gave nice views of 5 Dunlins. They were found at the far north end of McKinley Beach, some call it pebble beach. One of the Dunlins was a non-breeding adult. What a beautiful species!! I caught a little bit of their feeding action of finding things to eat that had washed up on the beach or in the water at the shore edge. It was a beautiful morning with full sun and  temps were around 70 degrees. Images were taken on May 29, 2023.

One of the Dunlins in breeding plumage near the shore getting things to eat…

They are always finding things to eat…

Dunlin, a non-breeding adult…

Another of the non-breeding adult Dunlin plumage…

At waters edge finding things to eat…

Something in the bill here…

One of my birding stops today along the Milwaukee lakefront was McKinley Beach.  Present were 3 Dunlins, 6 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 1 Semipalmated Plover. They put on a nice show eating things they like on the algae mat that has formed there. They also found food at the waters edge at the beach. While I was there they suddenly all got up at the same time and flew north. I believe there was a predator in the area. It was a beautiful morning with low winds, 70 degrees and mostly cloudy. Images were taken on June 4, 2021.

The Dunlin giving nice looks…

The Dunlin walking in the water finding things to eat…

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper with food in the bill…

Semipalmated Plover

The Dunlin preening…

The Dunlin shaking off…

The Dunlin fluffed up some…

Semipalmated Sandpiper with something in the bill…

Walking across the algae mat…

Birding Lakeshore State Park this morning I was surprised to come across a Dunlin. The bird was in nonbreeding plumage so it was not as colorful as if it were spring, but still a beautiful bird. It was feeding on the east shore of the island. It appeared it was finding plenty to eat and moving around on a few of the rocks. It was a cold morning out with snow flurries earlier in the morning, temps around 34 with a good cloud cover. Images were taken on October 26, 2020.

The Dunlin getting back up on the rock after a little slip…

A beautiful shorebird!

Something on the bill…

Down into the water for something to eat…

Looking for things to eat…

Looking for things to eat…

It seemed like it was finding plenty…

Dunlin in breeding plumage, image taken on May 23, 2017

Birding the Milwaukee lakefront this morning the bird species of the day was Dunlin. There were two nonbreeding adults present at the beach area at Lakeshore State Park. They fed up and down the beach area along with some gulls hanging around. Other birds to note along the lakefront this morning was a Ruddy Duck, male in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park, also, two Sanderlings at McKinley Beach. Sanderlings this fall have been frequent along the lake, they have been seen on and off since August 22, sometimes as many as 31 in a flock. It was a dark gloomy morning and as I was leaving it was starting to rain. Chilly temps with good breeze, it was scarf weather for me. Images were taken on October 19, 2018.

Dunlin, very more colorful in their breeding plumage in the spring of the year…

Dunlin

Binomial name: Calidris alpina

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 8.5” long, 17” wing span

Weight: 2.1 oz

Going into the water for something to eat…

Something to eat in the bill…

Dunlin, a nice pose…

The two of them…

As I watched, they pick up things, must assume food and drop it…

Close up…

With something to eat…

They are often in the water with their bill and sometimes the head too getting food…

More food in the bill…

Getting something to eat…

The beauty of the back feathers…

Getting things to eat…

Dunlins bill is under the water getting something to eat…

Walking along the beach towards me…

Stopping at McKinley Beach today also gave nice views of another species of shorebird, the Dunlin. The Dunlin hung out with the Ruddy Turnstone and the Semipalmated Sandpipers while feeding along the beach on the algae mat. All the birds gave nice views on this cloudy day with mild temps and light winds. Light rain started and I left the area. Images were taken on May 23, 2017.

Dunlin

Binomial name: Calidris alpina

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 8.5” long, 17” wing span

Weight: 2.1 oz

Feeding

Feeding

Eating something…or maybe sifting through the sand in the bill for something to eat…

At takeoff…

Preening

Preening

Fluffed up after preening…

At you…

Feeding

More feeding…

Feeding…

Closeup

Moving along the shore…

More feeding…

Just looking…

I made a run to the lakefront early this morning to see what was going on. McKinley Beach had 2 Dunlins and a Sanderling. I hung out there for awhile as the feed along the beach, preened, etc. After a while it just looked like these birds were ready for a nap. They moved up to a log on the beach, preened and then 2 were sleeping when out of the corner of my eye a pedestrian was coming, the birds flushed out over the water and I could not see where they were headed. I checked back awhile later after doing the Magic Hedge and all 3 birds were no where to be seen. It was a nice show they put on for the time I was there. Another species new today were ~25 Greater Scaups at the Petroleum Pier. It was a gloomy day with low winds and mild temps for this time of year. Images were taken on October 27, 2016.

Dunlin

Dunlin

Binomial name: Calidris alpina

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 8.5” long, 17” wing span

Weight: 2.1 oz

The pair

Feeding

Feeding

Was feeding

Sanderling

Feedinig

Feeding

Sanderling with a wave in the background

Feeding

The pair

Feeding

Preening

Up at the log they are preening and getting ready for a snooze!

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

2 of 3 are snoozing