I drove out to Carvins Cove this afternoon. There was light rain and a
strong, cold wind blowing out of the North that created white caps on the lake.
As soon as I pulled up to the pier I spotted a CASPIAN TERN. When I walked out
on the pier I saw 3 BLACK TERNS heading toward me from the dam. They seemed
to be really struggling in the wind. The CASPIAN stayed close to the parking
lot feeding in the calmer water. Once while watching one of the BLACKS I
spotted
2 WILD TURKEYS in the background foraging along the far shore.
I left the Cove and made my way over to the sewage treatment plant.
Several more shorebirds had dropped in since yesterday. I counted 10 species
including 2 STILT SANDPIPERS, 7 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER , 3
SOLITARY
SANDPIPERS, several KILLDEER, 1 SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, and about 40 peeps,
mostly SEMI-PALMATED and LEAST SANDPIPERS but there was 1 WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER
and 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER. Also present was a female NORTHERN SHOVELER hanging
with MALLARDS.
Mike Purdy
Roanoke