[birdky] McElroy 19 May 2008

Gadwall (2)
Ring-necked Duck (3)
Greater Scaup 
Lesser Scaup (~15)
Surf Scoter
Ruddy
PB Grebe (4)
Black-bellied Plover (18)
Semipalmated Plover (400++)
Greater Yellowlegs (2)
Lesser Yellowlegs (30-40)
Solitary (3-4)
Spotted Sandpiper (10+)
Sanderling 
Semipalmated Sandpiper (~500)
Least Sandpiper (~500)
White-rumped Sandpiper (~50)
Pectoral Sandpiper (~50)
Dunlin (175-200)
Stilt Sandpiper (4)
Short-billed Dowitcher (45)
Ring-billed Gull
Black Tern (5+)
American Pipit (Mitch Sturgeon)

Yesterday evening, David Brown, and Mitch Sturgeon and I were privileged to 
witness an event which I consider one of my favorites in nature, the departing 
of shorebirds on the next leg of their migration.  

The wind shifted to southerly late in the afternoon and the excitement among 
the birds could be felt.  Their chatter rose to a level and volume which is 
unmatched, and I mentioned that the birds were about to leave.  Soon, flocks of 
from 15-20 to 300 birds began to rise.  They would circle once or twice to gain 
altitude and then head northward, steadily ascending until the flocks became 
mere specks and then vanished into the evening sky.  Most of the Semipalmated 
Plovers, Dunlin, and 1000+ peeps left, and the ratio of Least to Semipalmated 
Sandpipers was altered with this event.  Semis will outnumber Least throughout 
the remainder of the spring.  This spectacle never fails to fill me with awe 
and wonder.

David L. Roemer
Bowling Green, Ky.



      
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