[va-bird] Reeve at Craney Island

Fellow Birders,

At approximately 2:30 pm. today Ruth Beck and I carefully observed a Reeve in 
the south cell of the Craney Island, Portsmouth dredge spoil area.  The bird's 
plumage appeared quite worn. It was was feeding among 5-6 Lesser Yellowlegs, a 
hendersoni Short-billed Dowitcher, and at least one Stilt Sandpiper.  We 
estimated the total number of shorebirds present exceeded 4500-predominately 
Semipalmated Sandpipers (2500-3000), Least Sandpipers (1200-1500) and 500+ 
Dunlin, with a scattering of Semipalmated Plovers 15-20), and White-rumped 
Sandpipers (also 15-20).  Many birds were at distances too far to accurately 
determine species counts.
The down side is that Craney is currently closed to the public, something we 
did not know when we arrived.  We were there to conduct some of Ruth's Least 
Tern research and were fortunate we were able to enter the facility at all.  
Craney will be closed to the public this week due to berm reseeding and facilty 
maintenance.  

Bill Williams
Center for Conservation Biology
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