| Common Name | Purple Sandpiper |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calidris maritima |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 12/18/2024 |
| Media | |
| Number Observed | 3 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Stephanie Scott |
| Mailing Address | 370 Falco Road Milton, VT 05468 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 12/17/2025 |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 44.5898793 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -73.3129930 |
| Place Name | Colchester Causeway |
| Township | Colchester |
| County | Chittenden |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 10:41 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | 2 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 30 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 20 |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Cold but not brutally so. Mid 20s. Cloudy and breezy. |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | This was an incidental sighting so I had only my eyes and cell phone. |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | The only reason I recognized these birds was a result of my time living in Cleveland, Ohio. There always seemed to be one or more that would show up along the Lake Erie coast each winter. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Rocky shore of the Colchester Railroad Causeway |
| Behaviors Observed | The three of them flew in from the northwest together and landed on the rocks of the causeway near wavy water. |
| Description of Vocalizations | None that I can remember hearing |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | This was an incidental sighting as I was out for a run on the causeway. Heading south from the ferry crossing, I saw movement and birds flew in from the NW landing on the rocks. I stopped running to see who they were and immediately recognized them as Purple Sandpipers from my time in Cleveland, Ohio. I used my cell phone to take pictures. As this was now a year ago, I can’t remember everything they were doing. I don’t remember any eating movements. I think they just rested for a moment and then took off again. |
| Relative Size & Shape | See pics |
| Head | See pics |
| Feet & Bill | See pics |
| Upper Back | See pics |
| Lower Back & Rump | See pics |
| Wings | See pics |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | See pics |
| Tail | See pics |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | This was an incidental sighting as I was out for a run. I stopped to take the pictures and immediately recognized them as Purple Sandpipers. I did run my pictures through Merlin to be sure. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Immediately After |
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