A First: A Shorebird in Our Yard

The land next to our house has a low area that forms a small temporary wetland after snow melt or heavy rains. Mallards often come and hang out, and we've joked about how it would be great to see a wading bird or shorebird there, but really didn't expect to. Well, today my son was outside and came racing back to the house to tell me we actually had one. It was a solitary sandpiper (or so I believe! My confidence is a little rocky after a couple of questionable identifications lately). I quietly walked within a few dozen feet of it to get the bottom shot, then returned to our three-season porch and got the top shot through the window with the spotting scope. Never thought I'd be able to photograph a sandpiper from my porch, that's for sure, and that's why I had to do it!