Purple Sandpiper/Gobadán cosbhuí (Calidris maritima)
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Purple Sandpiper, Calidris maritima, is a small shorebird. These birds occur in winter in good numbers principally along the east coast, where they favour rocky shorelines adjacent to the sea. They are late migrants and move to rocky ice-free Atlantic coasts in winter. most go no further south than North Carolina and northern Portugal. They are fairly gregarious, forming small flocks, often with Ruddy Turnstones. This species is tame and approachable.
These birds forage on rocky coasts, picking up food by sight. They mainly eat arthropods and mollusks, also some plant material.
Adults have short yellow legs and a medium thin dark bill with a yellow base. The body is dark on top with a slight purplish gloss and mainly white underneath. The breast is smeared with grey and the rump is black.
Their breeding habitat is the northern tundra on Arctic islands in Canada and coastal areas in Greenland and northwestern Europe. (wikipedia)
These are remarkably tough birds and not a lot is known of their biology. Taken along the Great South Wall, Dublin Bay, on the rising tide.
Purple Sandpiper/Gobadán cosbhuí (Calidris maritima)
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Purple Sandpiper, Calidris maritima, is a small shorebird. These birds occur in winter in good numbers principally along the east coast, where they favour rocky shorelines adjacent to the sea. They are late migrants and move to rocky ice-free Atlantic coasts in winter. most go no further south than North Carolina and northern Portugal. They are fairly gregarious, forming small flocks, often with Ruddy Turnstones. This species is tame and approachable.
These birds forage on rocky coasts, picking up food by sight. They mainly eat arthropods and mollusks, also some plant material.
Adults have short yellow legs and a medium thin dark bill with a yellow base. The body is dark on top with a slight purplish gloss and mainly white underneath. The breast is smeared with grey and the rump is black.
Their breeding habitat is the northern tundra on Arctic islands in Canada and coastal areas in Greenland and northwestern Europe. (wikipedia)
These are remarkably tough birds and not a lot is known of their biology. Taken along the Great South Wall, Dublin Bay, on the rising tide.