Black Turnstones overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast - they breed far to our north. Mike Reinhart recently found a group foraging at a beach at The Sea Ranch. In flight you can see their beautiful markings.
Black Turnstones are shorebirds and they do turn over stones and kelp to find food. Mike photographed one standing on kelp which has washed up on the beach. The bird overturns bits of kelp to find flies and eggs and other tasty morsels.
This Turnstone has some sand on its beak!
To hear their high-pitched calls, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Turnstone/sounds
Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
We had a nice storm this afternoon, Sunday. October rain is such a blessing. We have a lot of rain in our forecast too. Thank you, Mother Nature!
Anne Mary
What beautiful birds the Black Turnstones are. I don't think I've ever seen them, kudos to the photographer, the photo really shows off their markings. Thanks for sharing the bird call links too. The first one made all three of my sleeping cats jerk their heads up and awaken. The second one got the youngest, Béchamel to get up and come over to me and look quizzically at the computer looking for the birdie. They're all snoozing by the fire, so it was quite exciting for country kittehs on a rainy night. 🙂
Jeanne Jackson
Post authorThey overwinter here. I love seeing them in flight!