My last late Fall visit to Bunche Beach Preserve was made on 19 November with the company of Chris, Rachael, and Paul Baker visiting from England.
The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
Chris and I were taking photographs of the wildlife while Rachael and Paul were observers. We trekked to the west channel and into the bay to the furthest sandbar where a large flock of Black Skimmers were loafing with a bathing Brown Pelican.
The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
While I chose a vantage point that was relative to the wind, Chris remained with the most favorable light. It was to my disadvantage to have diagonal waves in the background of many of my images which makes the pics less appealing.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
A handful of Marbled Godwit were present as well. This is one of my favorite species for its distinctive coloration amongst other shore and wading birds.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
With a rise in the water level, the birds made their way across the west channel, and we chose to follow them. A smaller number of peeps were present on this morning than I am accustomed to seeing.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
A banded Piping Plover was observed which I always find exciting. I contacted Mary Bomberger Brown, affiliated with the University of Nebraska, to get some further insight on the bird seen.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
Mary advised me that the plover was banded by the Virginia Tech team as indicated by the green flag on the bird's upper left leg. I later heard from Meryl Friedrich, Database Manager of the
Virginia Tech Shorebird Project.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
Meryl advised me that the plover seen this day was banded by Virginia Tech researchers in June 2013 on the Missouri River near Yankton, South Dakota, and that my report was the first of the bird at its wintering grounds.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The banded Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The banded Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
Piping Plovers and Snowy Plovers with green flags on their upper right or left leg have been banded by the Virginia Tech team and may be reported by emailing vt.plover@gmail.com. Be sure to get a photo of the bird if you can or at least be sure of the banding combination.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
It was great to see the Bakers again and very much look forward to their return.
The Sanderling above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.
