I just got a call from Reuben Stoltzfus taking his first trip of the year around the Wildlife Drive. If you are up that way, pay particular attention to Benning Marsh, because that’s where he saw Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Dunlin. Also keep an eye out along the Wildlife Drive for Eurasian Wigeon, which others have seen recently, and Great Egret, which Mike Gullo saw on April first.
Both Yellowlegss had previously been reported by Wade & Melissa Rowley at Carncross Rd’s flooded field near the Seneca River in the Town of Savannah, so that can be another good place to study. Previous to that, Janet Akin heard Greater Yellowlegs near the intersection of Gravel & Lay Rds in Tyre. I had thought that Dunlin was new for the Basin for the year, but - sorry, Reuben - I just noticed from my Seneca County daily eBird “needs” report that Dave Kennedy found a Dunlin yesterday at the intersection of NYS-89 & NYS-31 at the west end of the mucklands, another great shorebird location. Bring a scope if you have one, as shorebirds are small and often distant. The only other shorebirds I’m aware of in the Basin are Killdeer, which first showed up ridiculously early, and American Woodcock and Wilson’s Snipe which were found as expected in late February and early March respectively. Reuben is keeping an eye out for Pectoral Sandpiper, another expected early shorebird. Another place I’ve had luck with shorebirds is the Guy Baldassarre marsh, by walking counter-clockwise around it and scoping inward while walking north along the east dike. Enjoy Shorebird Season! - - Dave Nutter -- 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/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
