This afternoon my Dad and I stopped at Montezuma for a couple of hours, and there was some excellent shorebirding. We started with the visitor center which is flooded now, and looks good for shorebirds. Here we had eighteen (18) SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS and four (4) LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Also at this location were a very small number (I did not count) of SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS, KILLDEERS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS and SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS. There was very little along the wildlife drive until we reached Bennings Marsh, which was packed with shorebirds. I did not make any attempt to count each species, but there were hundreds of shorebirds gathered on the mounds of mud. Shorebird species here included SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS, KILLDEERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, STILT SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and one molting adult DUNLIN. >From here we headed to Knox-Marsellus via Towpath Road. I was surprised how >dry it was until we reached the very eastern edge. As soon as I started to >scan I picked up an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE. I >quickly detected all the species from Bennings Marsh at this location as well, >with the exception of Solitary Sandpiper. Also in the initial scan I found >the definite highlight of the day, a juvenile CURLEW SANDPIPER. At the time I initially located the CURLEW SANDPIPER, it was standing alone unobstructed on the mudflat. A medium sized shorebird similar in size to a Dunlin, however longer (dark) legged and a more erect posture. Not as long legged as Stilt Sandpiper. It had a long down curved bill that was slightly longer and thinner tipped than a Dunlin, and more uniformly curved. Mantle was uniformly scalloped tan in color, superficially resembling the scalloped appearance of a Baird's Sandpiper. It had a very conspicuous white supercilium. Belly and lower breast were pure white. No sign of any belly patch as would be seen on an adult or juvenile Dunlin. Upper breast had a very warm tan colored band. I made an unsuccessful attempt to digiscope the bird before it was flushed by one of the three PEREGRINE FALCONS present (2 adults and 1 juvenile). I did not see the CURLEW SANDPIPER in flight because I was trying to look through my camera when it flushed with the hundreds of shorebirds. I attempted to relocate the Curlew Sandpiper in flight, however this was not an easy task considering the "white rumped" STILT SANDPIPERS and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS in the mix. In my attempt to relocate the Curlew Sandpiper, I did find two (2) BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS foraging on the mud flats. The two adult PEREGRINE FALCONS we initially saw, chased each other across the mudflats and flew directly over us heading south, and luckily did not return. The juvenile PEREGRINE unfortunately stayed and flushed the shorebirds about every 10 minutes. After one of the many Peregrine Falcon sorties that scared up all the shorebirds, we moved up to East Road to scan from there. A worthwhile change because from here, there was a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER standing directly out in the open on the mudflat. Also from East Road were two (2) BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, another molting adult DUNLIN and two (2) SANDHILL CRANES. We also relocated the juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON standing in the mud close to East Road. It was breaking up sticks with it's beak for along time, and then hopping and waddling around in the mud. This juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON had leg bands on both legs, but they were too far to read. The coloring was even confusing. Both legs appeared to have red bands with some green visible. When the falcon turned and faced the other way, both legs bands looked purple! I understand that typical Peregrine Falcon leg bands should be black over green, or black over red, so I was puzzled. I did read that Ohio uses purple bands. If anyone sees this falcon in coming days, maybe you can confirm band colors. I would be interested in learning more about it, and hearing any updates on the Curlew Sandpiper.. Regards, -Brad Carlson Honeoye Falls, NY [email protected] -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
