Slowly shorebirds are making their way south through western Carver and eastern
Sibley Counties. My first "fall" shorebirds arrived on June 30, Greater and
Lesser Yellowlegs. Habitat has been ample particularly in early July.
Flooded farm fields at the end of June and early July were comparable to spring
post snow melt. With the dryer conditions of late habitat has declined
significantly. Typical shorebird spots in the Yancy Ave. area have far too
much water with recent flooding. If it remains relatively dry, that area may
have adequate habitat by early to mid August. Also with the flooding of the
Minnesota River, Rapids and Chaska Lake will not produce any significant
shorebird habitat later this fall. Overall things are getting off to a slower
start than either 2012 or 2013. Beginning July 3 through July 13 the only
common migrant has been Least Sandpiper which have been seen daily with good
numbers. Even Yellowlegs have not been particularly numerous during that time
period which is quite different than either 2012 or 2013. One of the better
producing fields in 2012 along 158th St. had a new underground drainage system
installed/repaired last year and it dries out much more quickly now than it did
in 2012(has been dry for several days now despite having more water at the end
of June than 2012). The past 3 days have yielded the best diversity of the
fall. Shorebirds seen this week in Carver County were Killdeer, Spotted
Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs,
Stilt Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper,
Short-billed Dowitcher, and Wilson's Phalarope. Shorebirds seen in Sibley
County this week were Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least
Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Wilson's Phalarope.
John Cyrus
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