292. Ruddy Turnstone

Date         April 10, 2019

Location    On the beach near Reb's Cove, Naples, FL

The location is approximate; I looked at a map later to try to determine where we were at the time, and this was best I could do. Close enough!

About halfway through the boat ride, the guide grounded the boat near a little trail that went about 100 yards through the mangroves and out onto the beach facing the Gulf of Mexico. Here we collected shells and waded a bit.

I spotted a lonely bird foraging among the many shells that littered the sand. He caught a live one at one point; I saw him jabbing at the animal inside.

He was in non-breeding plumage, but the behavior and the bib (among other  marks) indicated this species.


Cornell: Ruddy Turnstone