I went out this morning looking for Purple Sandpipers and encountered this Snow Bunting along the way. Three of them popped up out of the rocks as I was walking along and then just sat there right in front of me only 15 feet away. This is the second time this fall I've had an up-close experience with these normally wary birds. I don't get it. In previous years I was never able to get anywhere near them! I also had a nice view of a mature Bald Eagle while I was out this morning.