Days like yesterday are why some of us who like to enjoy waterbirds but like to
stay in KY will drive more than four hours out to the Mississippi River and
make a 21 hour day out of it . . .
Pam Spaulding, Matt Stickel, and I birded the Lower Hickman Bottoms during the
day. Our first stop by the "Ruff" pond west of Sassafras Ridge did not yield
Hap and Melissa's bird from the previous day, but we returned mid-morning to
join Jeff Sole and we *did* find it the second time. In with at least 210
Lesser Yellowlegs and smaller numbers of a few other common shorebirds.
Yesterday was one of those days that a stiff west to northwest wind seemed to
be knocking everything down. Every pool of water had at least a few yellowlegs
and/or Pecs. Open Pond was alive with dabbling ducks and a smattering of
divers. The pools at KY 94 and MIdway Church Road were covered in more
shorebirds. Within a couple of miles we encountered well over 1000 shorebirds
of 11 species (especially impressive for March).
Highlights included two Black-necked Stilts along KY 94 north of Midway Church
Road, scattered American Golden-Plovers (from a few to 35-40 seen at more than
a half-dozen spots), a single Least Sandpiper, single Dunlin at three or four
spots, and lots of Long-billed Dowitchers already including at least 206
northwest of the jct. of KY 94 and Midway Church Road, at least 50 at Open
Pond, and a few scattered at a few other pools.
As noted above, lots of dabbling ducks but nothing rare. The wind reduced the
number of songbirds we encountered and recorded, and the only real raptor
highlight was 6-8 or so Northern Harriers still in the area. As Hap had noted
about the previous day, there were so many birds to look thru that we didn't
really get that much area covered!
bpb, Louisville
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