A M Verbeek 1966 Calidris pusillus (1) 6 June The first Semipalmated Sandpipers are back and they were actively displaying in the air, but not yet defending any territories. The males utter a strange gurgling sound, which reminds one of a motor of sorts. 8 June There were about 5 semipals, two of which formed a pair. This pair did much flying back and forth, which went accompanied by much chattering. 13 June Semipals seem to like to feed on disturbed areas and in other places where there is bare soil. 14 June Found two nests, each with 2 eggs along the new power line behind our laboratory. Both nests were on the side of a hummock on the edge of the bare top and the fringe of grasses. In both cases the female returned to the nest and settled on the eggs. When the first female flushed (I did not see her flush) and landed, the male flew over to her and I could see him flutter his wings in front of her. I did not see him cock his tail 15 June Both nests had 3 eggs. I flushed one of the females (of nest #1). She flew low over the ground and squared on a mound about 10 m from me. On this mound she crawled around with a hunched back so that the feathers of the lower back and rump were ruffled. The wings were drooped and ruffled too. At the same time she uttered squeedey noises, reminiscent of those of passerines in a similar situation. In any case not a type of sound which one would associate with a shore bird. The effect was that of a bird being injured.