The Western Solitary Sandpiper 



"SOLITARY" must not be understood in too absolute a sense. It 

 is not because of excessive fear nor hauteur that birds of this species are 

 seldom seen with others of the Sandpiper kind ; but only because they have 

 marked preference for certain kinds of cover. In this, as in other respects, 

 the Solitary Sandpiper is most nearly comparable to the Spotted Sand- 

 piper, and these superficial resemblances between the two species are so 

 close that the question of any distinction at all is rarely raised in the 

 popular mind. But T. solitaria is really larger, slimmer and jauntier 

 (if possible), with a voice a little higher-pitched and thinner. With the 

 Spotted, it appears by the side of streams and on river bars, but it does 

 not follow its lesser kinsman to the sea-shore in winter; and it is much 

 more likely to seek out for itself sheltered pools and grassy plashes, which 

 the other Sandpipers ignore. Even on the lagoons, which all must visit 

 during the migrations, the Solitary keeps to the edge of the salicornia, and 

 flits rather than endure exposure in the open. 



"If one happens upon half a dozen of these birds feeding beside a 

 leaf-lined pool in the depths of the woods, he may see not only a beauti- 

 ful sight, but one out of the ordinary in Sandpiper experiences. The 

 birds dart about rapidly, capturing not only slugs, worms, and small 

 crustaceans, but insects as well. Indeed, the wings at times are carried 

 about half- raised, as though the bird were on the very point of flight; 

 and quick sallies are made at passing moths and beetles. If a decaying 

 log lies half submerged, it is sure to be inspected from every point of 

 vantage; and the bird is not averse to alighting, on occasion, upon the 

 limb of a convenient tree. Again the bird plashes about freely upon the 

 floating vegetation, or wades breast deep, taking care, however, that its 

 dainty white bodice shall not be soiled. At other times, perhaps, it 

 moves with the sedateness of a heron, putting each foot down carefully 

 so as not to roil the water" (The Birds of Ohio). 



In securing what proved to be very indifferent portraits (not shown), 

 I pressed the bird along the muddy margin of Hope Lake toward a cul de 

 sac of tules, where, as I knew, a Sora Rail was wont to lurk. The Sand- 

 piper was cornered against the wall of reeds, and was meditating its dan- 

 ger. It was the psychological moment for a scare. Sure enough, the 

 Sora burst suddenly from cover and made a dramatic rush at the invader. 

 The Piper stood his ground upon the instant, and glared back so haughtily 

 at the Rail that that worthy fowl, blushing, as we may believe, under 

 the roots of his brown feathers, stammered an apology and fled incon- 

 tinently to his tall timber. 



Of the nesting of this wary bird we may not speak in detail, save to 

 remark that, after many alarms and false notices of discovery, it (or at 

 least the typical form) has positively been found nesting in the Province 



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