The shorebird migration has been spectacular, as expected, during the last
several days that I have been at my little cove on Willapa Bay. The greatest
numbers were today.
I could not count the total numbers, but they were certainly thousands of
shorebirds
About 90% were Western Sandpipers, and after that, large numbers of Dunlin and
Semipalmated Plovers.
Less numerous species were:
80 Black-bellied Plovers
3 Whimbrels
9 Greater Yellowlegs
75 Short-billed Dowitchers
3 Red Knots
1 Red-necked Phalarope
Surprisingly, I didn’t see any Least Sandpipers, which usually are the nearest
species to the deck.
Further out in the bay, there were about 70 Greater Scaup, a few Buffleheads,
and a flock of American Wigeons that was accompanied by 5 Eurasian Wigeon
males, and at least 2 female Eurasian Wigeon.
The afternoon sun light on 2 Ospreys and a fly by Bald Eagle, as well as
passing Caspian Terns and Ring-billed Gulls, was very pleasant. A Barred Owl
is calling as type.
Jeff Gilligan
Pacific County
