Last week, Dave Weaver and I went birding on Wednesday Morning with a nice group of people who did not fear the heat. We always love to see the shorebirds. The night before I had found two uncommon species, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and Baird’s Sandpiper, at Bill forward Pool, so we were particularly hopeful. We came home extremely satisfied! Its the time in the shorebird migration when some of the more interesting species often show up. Don’t miss the surprises in store this Wednesday, when Dave Weaver and Susan Yurkus will lead the way! Here are some of the images from last week’s outing:
Common Raven that hangs around Joppa Flats and refuge HQ- Mike Densmore
Cooper’s Hawk – Mike Densmore
Cooper’s Hawk on electrical system – Bob Minton
Shorebirds in Flight – Patti Wood
Cedar Waxwings were everywhere – Bob Minton
Baird’s Sandpiper – Patti Wood
Buff-breasted Sandpiper – Patti Wood
Cormorants and Snowy Egrets – Patti Wood
Greater Yellowlegs – Bob Minton
Green Darner – shorebirds weren’t the only migrants! – Mike Densmore
Our list:
Mallard (~ 20) – juvs.; Stage Island Pool(SIP).
Common Eider (3) – 2 young drakes, 1 hen; Emerson Rocks.
Double-crested Cormorant (~ 25) – various.
Great Blue Heron (2) – 1, SIP; 1, Bill Forward Pool (BFP).
Great Egret – common; various.
Snowy Egret – common; various.
Osprey (1) – overhead; Hellcat dike.
[Cooper’s Hawk (1) – juv.; PRNWR HQ.]
Cooper’s Hawk (1) – flyby BFP blind.
Black-belled Plover (~ 40) – BFP.
Semipalmated Plover – common; various, mostly BFP.
Piping Plover (2) – parking lot # 7 beach.
Spotted Sandpiper (1) – SIP.
Greater Yellowlegs – common; SIP & BFP.
Lesser Yellowlegs – common; mostly BFP.
RED KNOT (5) – juvs.; BFP.
Sanderling (~ 15) -parking lot #7 beach.
Semipalmated Sandpiper – common; mostly BFP.
Least Sandpiper (3) – 2, SIP; 1, N. Pool from Hellcat dike.
White-rumped Sandpiper (8) – 4, BFP; 4, N. Pool from Hellcat dike.
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER (1) – BFP, seen close aboard Hellcat dike
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (2) – BFP, seen close aboard Hellcat dike
Short-billed Dowitcher (~ 13) – ~ 10, BFP; 3, N. Pool from Hellcat dike.
Ring-billed Gull -parking lot #7 beach.
Herring Gull -parking lot #7 beach.
Great Black-backed Gull (5) -parking lot #7 beach.
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove (2)
Eastern Kingbird (0)
Blue Jay (2)
Tree Swallow (~ 50)
Barn Swallow (1) -parking lot #7 beach.
Gray Catbird (1)
Northern Mockingbird (6) – parking lot #7.
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing – common; various.
House Finch (~ 25) – parking lot #7.