Shorebirds can be a lot of fun to observe and have such a distinctive look they can usually be easily identified as shorebirds. Of course, identifying which shorebird species they are can sometimes be more of a challenge, though not with today’s subject, the spotted sandpiper. It might have been a little more challenging if this were a non-breeding bird as then it wouldn’t have had the distinctive black spots all along its chest. Helping with the ID is its dark tipped orange bill and short yellow legs.

This particular spotted sandpiper was observed a number of years ago in the first days of May walking along the rocky shoreline of a local wildlife refuge. I was hiking the trail parallel to the shore and happened to be going the same direction as the sandpiper. It was funny how it had a very specific personal space, rather large, and each time I entered that space it would run a bit further ahead. I kept trying to move a little closer, hoping to fill the frame without needing to crop the photos later, but it wasn’t quite comfortable enough with me to allow that. So I quickly learned the distance it was comfortable with and attempted to stay just outside that range, allowing it to move forward at its own pace, me following behind as it moved down the shoreline and I followed the path, two strangers for a brief time traveling together.

I could see what I interpreted as a bit of curiosity in the bird as it would sometimes tilt its head towards me and watch. It didn’t appear to feel threatened as it never flew away. I think it was just keeping watch to be sure I didn’t get too close. If I kept my distance it was ok sharing this stretch of trail and shoreline with me. But this did bring to mind how often we feel the urge to give different species human characteristics they may or may not actually have. Curiosity, for example. Perhaps it did, in fact, have a simple sense of curiosity. Or perhaps what appeared to be curiosity was just its survival instinct, knowing it had to keep a distance from potential threats, enough distance to give it time to launch itself into the air and fly away, if needed. Either way, it awakened my own sense of curiosity as I followed and observed this wonderful little bird. And for that, I’m thankful.

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