I watched a Western Sandpiper preening for twenty minutes today 15 metres west of the bridge over Pringle Creek. The bill was characteristic, longer than other peeps, thick at the base and drooping at the tip. The bird is quite dark above with some rufous edging showing on the feathers and very white below. The face is quite white except for the dark line through the eye. The Western Sandpiper was standing next to a thin log one foot long on the mudflat. Both yellowlegs were present as well as Least and Semipalmated sandpipers and Semipalmated plovers. It was not associating with the other birds.
Take 401 exit 410 south at Whitby south to the bridge. Brian Gibson Toronto, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
