Drove past a couple of playas on the way to church this morning. Guy park had
about 30 each American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts. Dupree Park had 12-15
Greater Yellowlegs, a handful of Black-necked Stilts, a Great Blue Heron, 3
Snowy Egrets, and 4-6 Spotted Sandpipers. The highlight though, was a pair of
dowitchers in breeding plumage. One was across the lake, but a long look at the
one nearest me led me to believe it was a Long-billed Dowitcher, based on the
reddish belly, more extensive barring rather than spotting along the flanks and
undertail, and darker back.
A stop by Clapp after church was not very productive. Best birds were 6-9
Painted Buntings. Other birds of note were a Green Heron and an immature Snowy
Egret. The lakes were both pretty dry, but a good rain or two should make this
a great location for rails and waterfowl this winter. An inch or two of water
in the ponds would make for some decent shorebird habitat.
Sent slowly from Phillip Kite's iPhone
