Lindsey McMahon and I joined Rickey Shive at McElroy Lake late this afternoon.
Lindsey and I were tacking some waterbirds onto a day list of songbirds from
Bernheim Forest and environs. We had to sit out a couple of showers, but we
tallied 13 species of shorebirds including a male Wilson's Phalarope (thanks to
Ray Bontrager for the heads up on where to find that one). We also saw 2
Black-bellied Plovers, a few dozen Semi Plovers, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, maybe 75
Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, a few Semi Sandpipers, and a
single Long-billed Dowitcher. Also had maybe 50 Least Sandpipers and a few
Solitaries and Spotties. Lindsey found a couple of Black Terns foraging over
the lake with many swallows. Ducks were mostly as has been found in recent
days, although 20 Ruddy Ducks were new I think.
Before Lindsey and I left, we stopped to scan thru the swallows on the
irrigation rig to try to find Bank Swallows. We were successful in that
endeavor, so I scanned a bit more and found a few Cliff Swallows. I then ran
across a classic Cave Swallow perched in between two Tree Swallows. The bird
had a dark blue back, whitish belly, medium brown forecrown patch, a very
noticeable dark crown, pale gray-brown auriculars and nape, and a pale,
orangish-brown throat. The way it was sitting there we did not see the rump,
but the bird was perfect with nice "capped" look. Lindsey made a gallant effort
at digiscoping the bird with her phone while I ran to the car for my camera,
but before I got back it had flown.
My recommendation for a resighting tomorrow would be to park at the normal
spot, but walk up the western shoreline until you can view both sides of the
irrigation center pivot rig that are out over water. The birds were loafing on
this structure in large numbers, and if the Cave Swallow hangs around, that
would probably be the best manner of relocating it. The looks from the lake
shore are not far, and should allow ready ID.
bpb, Louisville
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