A recent trip to Cedar Key led to the sighting of a surprising number of little shore birds. This time of the year most of the migratory birds have left, but a few remain. The ones that are still here are getting their beautiful breeding plumage. That was the case with this very handsome ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres) that was wandering around on the beach. There were actually several of them on the main beach and quite a few on one the beaches off the main road. They have a long trek up to the Arctic tundra ahead of them, so they were fattening up on ocean worms and insects. Seeing them coloring out like this made the whole experience something special.