Killdeer and Least Sandpipers

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During a recent low tide visit at Eastern Neck NWR, I was delighted to see a Killdeer out on the mud flats.

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Killdeer

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Seen throughout North America, Killdeer are a common year-round shorebird that you don’t have to head to the shore to see.  They will live and breed just about anywhere they can establish a nest on a small patch of rocks.

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Killdeer
(Ring-billed Gull napping in background)

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Something tiny moving caught my eye, and I also discovered four Least Sandpipers!

These were confirmed on eBird as a rare sighting at the refuge, only possibly seen during migration.  They breed in the artic tundra.

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Least Sandpipers

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Least Sandpipers are the smallest of sandpipers, just a little bigger than a sparrow.

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Least Sandpipers

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You know I love to capture and share comparison shots and I lucked out again.  Here you go!

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Least Sandpipers and Killdeer

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This morning I saw massive skeins of Canada Geese high in the sky, heading north.

We’ve already had numerous reports of Osprey showing up around the Chesapeake Bay early.

Spring migration is in motion!

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