Semipalmated Sandpiper
First view, breakwall, Lower Harbor,
Marquette, Michigan, 21 August 2010; note webbing on toes is visible.
Another view, breakwall, Lower Harbor,
Marquette, Michigan, 9 June 2011.
Another view, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 14
August 2005.
Another view, 700 S & 100 E, Montgomery
County, Indiana, 24 May 2006.
Another view, break wall, Lower Harbor,
Marquette, Michigan, 6 August 2010.
I found an odd peep on the break wall
in MarquetteÕs Lower Harbor on the afternoon of 4 June 2017. It was feeding
with a flock of ten (or so) Semipalmated Sandpipers, and seemed similar to them
in size and shape and feeding habits. But it had very light (flesh-colored,
almost yellow) legs. Clearly, too large to be a Least Sandpiper. Could it be a Long-toed
Stint?!?! No, as one photo revealed partially webbed feet, while another photo
revealed whitish underwings. So, a good lesson in peep identification (i.e., and
in this case, Semipalmated Sandpiper can have unusually light legs). Here are
some photos to this bird: 1st
photo, 2nd photo, 3rd photo, 4th photo, 5th photo.
