Our good friend at Ramsey Daily Photo just posted a photograph of a turnstone but her bird is very camouflaged and difficult to see properly. So I thought I'd show you the ones I saw last March on Paignton Harbour.
They were walking around pecking at the concrete and checking out the puddles quite unconcened about the people passing close by.
The Arenaria interpres are intrepid wee birds that can fly at 40 mph and cover 350 miles in a day. They winter in the UK and then pop off to the Baltic, Greenland or Canada for the summer to breed.
I've never heard of these birds before..they're so sweet. I especially like the reflections in the water..
ReplyDeleteI love turnstones, they are such characters, always a joy to see (and hear!) as they turn the stones on the beach
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever seen these birds, they are lovely!
ReplyDeleteThey are adorable birds. We have groups of them all the time on the beach. Thanks you for the link. I think mine may have been too odd today. I'll do the colour one soon.
ReplyDeleteIn the first photo, they almost look like they were walking in formation.
ReplyDeleteHere in the desert heat
ReplyDeleteI cool myself
revelling in the cool
of your pictures
and enjoying the privilege
of hearing your voice. Fran Sbrocchi
Fabulous birds - their name tells us exactly what they do.
ReplyDeleteWe saw some last week on the Mersey estuary.
Gerald,
ReplyDeleteWhat a magical photo the second is. Well taken!
Gwilym
Beatiful bird. Yep, I had not seen them either ever. I like it better in the last image. Nice plumage.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Cornwall where Turnstones (and the gorgeous Oystercatchers) were frequent beach and estuary visitors. So it was with some surprise that I saw them on your blog. Turnstones? Cheshire? Then I read on ... nice place Paignton. We went to the zoo there when I was a child on holiday in 'England'.
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