Jan., 1912 
THE SHORE BIRDS OF SANTA BARBARA 
9 
Pisobia minutilla. Least Sandpiper. Abundant from late July until late 
March, though much less numerous in winter. July 18 to April 1, 1910. It seems 
strange that this, the smallest of the order, should be one of the few that remain to 
winter wdth us. One frequently finds single birds, or two or three together, 
pattering around the w'et kelp on the ocean beach, often waiting to examine an 
intruder from under the very feet of the latter before taking wing. 
Pelidna alpina sakhalina. Red-backed Sandpiper. Occurs in both spring and 
fall, but is never very common. Spring: March 10, 1910, to April 20, 1911. Fall, 
September 9 to November 23, 1911. A female was taken September 9, 1910, in 
almost full nuptial dress, after which none were noted until the 18th, when one 
was seen in winter plumage. It it hard to understand why these birds do not 
winter with us here, since Mr. Bowles found it nothing unusual to see them in 
winter in the vicinity of Tacoma, Washington. 
Ereunetes mauri. Western Sandpiper. Very abundant spring and fall mi- 
grant. Spring: February 28, 1910, to May 16, 1911. Fall: July 11, 1910, to Decem- 
ber 5, 1909. Sometimes these little gleaners fairly swarm in their favorite haunts, 
and it is a beautiful sight, wdien some Marsh Hawk in search of mice flaps over 
them, to see the whole flock rise as one bird and go through precise evolutions of 
wheeling and fleeing up the shore, all the time twittering blithely. 
Calidris leucophaea. Sanderling. Abundant winter resident of Santa Barbara, 
but for some reason not common at Carpenteria or Goleta. Earliest arrival July 
29, 1910; last seen May 26, 1911, when most were in nuptial dress. One collected 
August 25, 1911, was still in breeding plumage. In spite of their numbers it is 
only by the rarest chance that we see any of these little fellows on the mud flats, 
for all of their time is spent on the ocean beaches. Frequently the}^ may be found 
sunning themselves on the warm, dry sand, with a large company of Snowy Plo- 
vers, but their most characteristic occupation is chasing the retreating waves 
oceanward after stranded sandfleas, and in their turn being chased back up the 
beach by the incoming breakers. 
Limosa fedoa. Marbled Godwit. Common fall migrant, but rather rare in 
spring and summer. Fall: August 20 to November 1, 1911. Although local resi- 
dents have reported them occasionally in spring and summer, we have not .seen 
them at those seasons excepting a single bird June 15, 1911. This one was ex- 
ceedingly tame and, although well able to fly, remained on the beach for several 
days in company wdth the gulls. 
Totanus melanoleucus. Greater Yellow-legs. Regular, but not common, 
spring and fall migrant. Rare in winter. Spring: March 20, 1911, to May 16, 1910. 
Fall: July 18, 1910, to January 2, 1911. A female shot August 29 was the only one 
noted by us this fall until October 14. Contrary to custom she was in an untalka- 
tive frame of mind. 
Helodromas solitarius cinnamomeus. Western Solitary Sandpiper. Rare 
spring migrant, and usually not at all common in fall. Spring: one seen April 30, 
1910. Fall: July 22, 1910, to September 7, 1911. The Solitary Sandpiper, more 
than any other shore bird, is inclined to restrict itself to the grassy mud flats and 
wet meadows, in fact we have never seen it on the ocean beach or open flats. This 
species, and the Spotted Sandpiper also, will sometimes dive and swim under water 
when wounded, using the wings as propellers in the same manner as do the ducks. 
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus. Western Willet. Rare in spring 
migration, but very common in the fall; casual in summer, one seen by Mr. Torrey 
on June 24, 1910. Spring: April 16, 1910. Fall: July 25, 1911 (Torrey) to Novem- 
