Rare Visitor to Illinois

HMeade2108

Purple Sandpipers are normally found on the Atlantic coast in winter. So they are pretty rare in Illinois. But Waukegan beach, especially the breakwaters, seem to be the place to find them. This is the second year in a row that they have been at this spot.
I got to see it yesterday, and I was really surprised on how cooperative it was. At one point it got within 3 feet of us!

Taking in the scenery

Red-tailed hawk (Eastern)