Solitary, but not alone.

As hoped for in the post below..., I was able to get a few shots of the Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) we crossed paths with at San Bernard NWR back on 11 March.

The gentle beginnings of migration have already allowed us a few wonderful glimpses at fellow earthlings, many of whom have a long distance to travel.




This is a species I most commonly associate to winter months at Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary outside of Brownsville, TX.

Sadly, that sanctuary is now located on the other side of the Border Wall. North of the border, mind you, yet south of the Border Wall. Pretty much the DMZ, and closed to the public.



So, this species does winter in the southern tip of Texas. (The following map may be a bit generous with the winter range in North America)


courtesy of Boreal Songbird Initiative

Otherwise it spends those months in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

The individual Heidi and I came across was likely a migrating bird. As the above map indicates, this is a "tundra-nester" that breeds, spending the spring and summer, across Canada.

Generally seen singly (the only way I've seen them), or in small flocks; it joins that mass exodus of many avian species heading north for the spring.



As always during migration, I wonder where this being is specifically coming from and going.