Did a "quick" birding trip through Montezuma Wildlife Drive today and the number of shorebirds is increasing although still not near what was at Knox-Marcellus a week or so ago. Time flies when birding, my "quick" trip was almost 90 minutes!
The channel before Larue's continues to have the typical SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, KILLDEER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Over the main pool there were loads of WOOD DUCK, PIED-BILLED GREBES, with lots of young. Also COMMON GALLINULE and AMERICAN COOT. I managed only a lone AMERICAN WIGEON and did not get the recent RING-NECKED DUCKS that were seen here. There were also loads of EASTERN KINGBIRDS in several family groups. I also saw many BLACK TERNS, there were a lot of immatures, and adults with some adults showing signs of molting from their alternate or breeding plumage already. Eaton Marsh, (not Benning Marsh) has increasing numbers of shorebirds(again not anything like K-M marsh) but I was happy to see (up close), lots of LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a couple GREATER YELLOWLEGS and one STILT SANDPIPER. This bird was beginning its molt or in a very worn alternate/breeding plumage. It was with 3 dowitchers of which had rufous/orangish color all the way to the undertail coverts. These birds were still looking like they were in at least a worn breeding plumage. Their size didn't strike me as big or "chunky" enough for a long-billed but I have mistaken this before. My assumption is they are likely the Prairie race of the Short-billed Dowitcher (hendersoni) but I could be wrong. Unfortunately, they along with the STILT SANDPIPER were in and out of vegetation and it was impossible to get any decent photos from my car, then an immature bald eagle flew by and stirred them all up. I only heard one LEAST SANDPIPER although there could have been more peeps that I missed. They are continuing to pump water into Eaton Marsh as well. I didn't have much time to bird Benning Marsh as I was running short on time. Water levels are low there but there is some muddy areas and I could see peeps eventually in there at some point especially if they can get more water in there as planned. Here is my ebird list.... http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30681531 Best, Dave -- 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/ --
