Lake Erie Shorebirds:

Stuck in the Mud... Peeps and Probers

story and photos by Tim Daniel
adapted from WILD Ohio Fall 2004

I can remember a steamy July morning on the Lake Erie shoreline about 15 years ago when I made my first attempt at photographing shorebirds. I knew these birds preferred a type of habitat known as a mudflat, but what I didn’t know is that the mudflats that are solid ground for the shorebirds, can be like quicksand to a photographer. If you have ever heard the expression “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” then you know where I am going with this. To this day I give credit to my tripod for helping me get out of the mud and back on the shore. The entire experience reminded me of the dinosaurs in the tar pit scenario, but I managed to get some pretty good photos for my effort.

Since that day I have been fascinated with the idea of spending time in the field in late July or early August to view and photograph shorebirds during Ohio’s fall migration. Most birds make the trip from breeding grounds as far north as the Arctic on the way to wintering grounds in South America. It is not unheard of for these birds to fly non-stop for days traveling over 2,000 miles before resting.

Shorebirds are opportunistic and may stop wherever mud is

Shorebird Viewing Opportunities The shoreline along Lake Erie is a good place to start in the late summer or early fall. Public areas include the wetlands at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Ottawa County. Inland public areas include Big Island Wildlife Area in Marion County, Spring Valley Wildlife Area in Greene and Warren counties, and Grand River Wildlife Area in Trumbull County. These areas have managed wetlands that are “drawn down” during the summer and early fall. Drained areas create short-term mudflats and shallows that shorebirds can take advantage of during the early part of their migration.

available. Ohio is an ideal area for migrating shorebirds as some of the most used rest stops are in managed marshes. These are areas where water levels are manipulated resulting, in part, in an abundant food supply of aquatic insects, critical in carrying shorebirds through the rest of their migratory journey. During their stopovers they will go into a feeding frenzy in which they could gain 50 percent of their weight in body fat before moving on.

While this refueling stop is essential to the survival of shorebirds, it also provides exceptional opportunities for viewing and photography. They may use a mudflat along the  way for a few days and then move on to the next.

Location and appearance will help you identify shorebirds. Don’t let their common group name mislead you. Shorebirds are not simply birds found at the shore. Many of these birds are found along ocean and major lake  coastlines, but they are also found inland.

Semi-palmated plover

Shorebirds include the families of plovers, sandpipers and related birds that are part of the Order charadriiformes. These birds are characterized by their long bills and large eyes. Most have thin legs with plump bodies. These birds will vary in plumage from bold to the very subtle patterns, and exhibit drab or dynamic color. During fall migration most shorebirds are not in breeding plumage, which makes it even more difficult to identify them by species. This is when a good spotting scope, field guide, and a little patience will come in handy. Attempting to identify shorebirds can sometimes be a very humbling experience, but the challenge will keep you coming back.

American Avocets

Some shorebirds are known as “probers” because they feed by pushing their long bills deep into the mud for aquatic insect larvae. Prober feeders include dowitchers, dunlin, and many of the sandpipers. Others like the American avocet exhibit a more graceful movement by stalking through shallow water while skimming their bill from left to right.

If you see a shorebird with shorter legs and bill it will most likely be looking for insects in the extreme shallows and simply pluck them out of the mud. These short-legged varieties are commonly known as “peeps.” Peeps include birds such as the least sandpiper and semipalmated sandpiper. These defining aspects that most shorebirds display can be quite comical to watch as they routinely probe the mud or scurry up and down the edge of the water looking for their next meal.

Least Sandpiper

While most shorebirds you see will be migrating from their nesting grounds in the Arctic there are some like killdeer and spotted sandpipers that will nest in Ohio. No matter where the birds are coming from you are sure to find their antics entertaining and their identification challenging. So make sure to take advantage of this viewing opportunity because there is never a dull moment, and maybe someday you will find yourself stuck in the mud as well as with a new outdoor hobby.