Hello Birders,
Terry Schiefer has been policing the draining of the Oktibbeha Co. Lake
during the last month or so. He found a winter-plumaged Wilson's Phalarope
this morning, and I saw it again about an hour later. I also saw a single
LB Dowitcher - 1st seen during the draw down.
I decided to check the lake close to sundown after returning from birding
in Humphreys Co. I found 9 Roseate Spoonbill and 80 Wood Storks roosting
on the edge of the pool. There were also 2 adult Bald Eagles sitting at
the water's edge.
So, here are the shorebirds seen during the last month of drying lake:
Black - bellied Plover
Piping Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
LB Dowitcher
American Avocet
Wilson's Phalarope
and the Spoonbill and Storks.
We do not have much shorebirds habitat in this county, and I thank Terry
for the alerts. Good thing that he lives close to the lake!
The lake is likely to stay done into October. It is worth a look if you
are nearby. A scope is needed. Birds are best viewed from the levee
during morning hourd.
Sincerely,
Jeff Harris
