In mid-afternoon today, despite the heat waves off the fields, we found
900+ Black-bellied Plovers in the "plover fields" along Talbot Line
[Hwy 3] in southwest Chatham-Kent. These "plover fields" are a favourite
staging area for large numbers [1000s at times] of plovers and other
shorebirds and are an alternative to looking for them in the black muck
"onion fields" adjacent to Rondeau Bay, Pelee and Lake St. Clair. Most
years, the birds are found close to Talbot Line and inland to perhaps
the first concession north of Talbot Line. In some years they spread
farther inland.
We stopped and scanned from Talbot Line starting at Merlin Road in the
east and continued west to Stevenson Road. Today, all of the 6 fields
that had plovers were between Merlin Road and Radmore. Flocks were
smaller and fewer as we moved west. In some fields the plovers were
close enough to the road to see by eye. But a stop and scan revealed
dozens more spread across the field and many more lying hidden in ruts
with just their heads sticking above the soil.
Other species observed today were 30 American Golden-Plover, 15 Ruddy
Turnstones and 6 Dunlin.
In past years, we've seen Whimbrel, Semi-palmated Plover, Red Knot,
Short-billed Dowitcher and various "peeps" as well, especially if the
fields are wet.
Given how dry the fields are this year, we weren't expecting to see so
many plovers.
Directions:
Talbot Line [formerly Hwy 3] runs along the Lake Erie shoreline. The
plover fields are midway between Blenheim and Wheatley.
Dave Martin and Linda Wladarski
Harrietsville, ON
[email protected]
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