| Common Name | Purple Sandpiper |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calidris maritima |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 01/03/2025 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Steve Antell |
| Mailing Address | 211 Woodb ine Rd Shelburne, V T 05482 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 01/04/2025 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | Originally spotted by a birder named Mark-don't know last name |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Place Name | Shelburne Bay |
| Township | Shelburne |
| County | Chittenden |
| Time of Day | 01:30 PM |
| Length of Time Observed | 10 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 25 yards |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 25 yards |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Northwest winds, maybe 10-15 mph |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | Leica Noctivid binoculars-8x |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | Have seen at least one other time at this location and several times on the Maine coast |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Edge of shoreline |
| Behaviors Observed | Woulds occasionally jump down into the water, then back up onto the shoreline wrack |
| Description of Vocalizations | None heard |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | Returned later in the day and there were at least 15 other people there, all agreeing that it was a purple sandpiper. Clem Nilan, John Peckam and others took photographs. |
| Relative Size & Shape | About the size of a sanderling. Chunky, dark looking bird |
| Head | mostly dark |
| Feet & Bill | Yellow legs easily seen. Bill slightly decurved and dark most of the way to the end |
| Upper Back | Dark |
| Lower Back & Rump | Darkish |
| Wings | Slight wing bar when wings stretched out |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | Lighter underneath |
| Tail | nothing remarkable |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Only shorebird likely to be in this area in winter. Did not have shape or behavior of spotted sandpiper. Appropriate habitat for purple sandpiper. Overall coloration, leg color, bill shape made ID quite easy. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Written from Memory |
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