Attempts to relocate the Sharp-tailed between 1030 and 1250 today have not
yet met with success, but the heat haze and inactivity of the shorebirds at the
field made viewing difficult. Still present were the Buff-breasted and Upland
Sandpipers, and the numbers of Pectoral Sandpipers (males and females, adults
and juveniles) had increased from the morning, perhaps 70 total at midday.
Tom Saunders located a Wilson's Snipe (first of the fall for this area; five
days later than last year's first) in the same field, and a Stilt Sandpiper
also
turned up, seen by Tom, myself, and Pete Gulat (hope I spelled this right),
who is doing work for CCB on the refuge. Also not noted earlier in the morning
were Semipalmated Sandpipers (6 or so) and Western Sandpipers (2). Many more
Horned Larks were around at midday, as well (at least 16). A juvenile
Black-bellied Plover, stunning, is still in with the molting adults. Numbers
of
Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers were about half of the morning's counts,
as the tide had dropped, and most had probably withdrawn to feed on mudflats.
They should return in the late afternoon, when the light / humidity will be
better. The best light, however, is unquestionably in the early morning here,
as one looks west at this field. Seventeen shorebird species in one potato
field is not bad; we still expect American Golden-Plover in this field very
soon.
(New York currently has a Pacific Golden-Plover, hard on the heels of
Pacifics in Massachusetts and New Jersey in the past 2 years.)
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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