Juvenile Red Knot and Other Shorebirds

Presqu'ile Provincial Park on 22 September 2011

Juvenile Red Knot at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Ontario, on 22 September 2011

 

Juvenile Red Knot watching for aerial predators such as Merlin on 22 September at Presqu'ile Provincial Park.

 

As water levels in Lake Ontario drop, mats of algae at Owen Point attract many shorebirds. Presqu'ile Provincial Park on 22 September 2011.

 

Semipalmated Sandpiper in juvenile plumage at Presqu'ile Provincial Park on 22 September 2011.

 

Semipalmated Sandpiper beginning to molt from juvenal into formative (first winter) plumage. This is unusual because juvenile  Semipalmated Sandpipers normally do not molt while migrating through southern Ontario. Presqu'ile Provincial Park on 22 September 2011.

 

Adult White-rumped Sandpiper molting into basic plumage. Adult White-rumps undergo a body molt while staging at migration stopovers such as James Bay. They will molt wings and tail when they reach the wintering grounds in South America. Presqu'ile Provincial Park on 22 September 2011

 

Juvenile Sanderling moving the prehensile tip to its bill. Presqu'ile on 22 September 2011

 

Juvenile Semipalmated Plover at Presqu'ile on 22 September 2011

 

Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper at Presqu'ile on 22 September 2011