ML154800211

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

At approximately 3:10 PM on 26 November 2014, this Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) flew down the ship channel and directly below me at Canal Park as I leaned over the wall in astonishment. It continued hugging the wall as it flew west and under the aerial lift bridge, before turning towards the pedestrian lift bridge. I searched the shoreline from Canal Park to Rice's Point, but could not refind it. Duluth birders also looked for it the following day without success. If accepted by the MOU Records Committee, this will furnish the 2nd record for St. Louis County and 8th for Minnesota. After it passed below me, this medium-sized, long-winged shorebird veered up and fluttered momentarily above the pier as if it was about to land on the pier, but a nearby gull opened its wings and the bird flew down towards the water and continued flying west. Fortunately, I had my camera in my hands and managed to capture several images of the bird in flight as it continued flying under the aerial lift bridge. Still flying close to the pier, it then turned right towards the pedestrian lift bridge. As the bird passed directly below me at Canal Park, I noticed that it had a long, thin bill but could not see its underparts or its legs and feet. However, my photos show olive or dull yellow legs and feet. The attached photos also depict a very plump-looking body and whitish belly with dark markings on the flanks. Its plumage was all dark gray or brownish-gray and uniform above, with a faint white wing stripe and whitish spots or bars along the sides of its rump. The rest of its rump and tail was otherwise dark like the rest of its upperparts. Its tail looked distinctly wedge-shaped from my point-of-view while leaning over the pier and looking down on the bird. The bird did not vocalize.

Technical information

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