[Maine-birds] The purple of Purple Sandpipers (Knox County)

Hello Maine Birders,

My brother (Casey) and I birded much of the day on Sunday. One of the big highlights was our fortuitous arrival at the Rockland Breakwater coinciding with high tide.  As we started walking out the breakwater, a flock of 18 Purple Sandpipers flew from the upper bay and landed on the rocks. When we reached the area where the flock had landed, I was gobsmacked to see, in the gorgeous afternoon light, the purple on the Purple Sandpipers. I have observed Purple Sandpipers many times in a number of locations but never before had I caught the inspiration for their common name. I was able to capture the hue with my camera thankfully.

Here is our eBird checklist:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S161253456

The purple is discernible in all the images if you click on them to enlarge, the pinkish-lavender iridescence is most conspicuous on the third and fifth images. You can hear their calls as they squabble in the video.

Four drake American Wigeons were an unexpected bonus there as well.

Good birding,

Eric

.....................

Eric Hynes

Brunswick, ME

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