April 8th, 2019
Daniel Redwine, Victor and I spent the day from Shelby to Dyer and Lake
Counties. Highlights for the day included a surprise FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK
with the 50-100 BBWD at the pits in Memphis, (I wonder if it isn’t the same
bird as was frequenting the same area last year) FOS Spotted Sandpipers and
Prothonotary Warbler as well as only one pair of Black-necked Stilts at
the pits. (Most of the pits were flooded out with few shorebirds around).
We got to Dyer County by mid afternoon and located the good numbers of
shorebirds and waterfowl that have been reported along the Great River Road
recently. I estimated a thousand shorebirds, with biggest numbers of Lesser
and Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpipers, 120 some dowitchers that
appeared to be at least mostly Long-billed, 110 American Golden Plovers,
and one each STILT and BAIRD’s SANDPIPERs.
Still along the Great River Road in Dyer County but a bit further North
(near the Lake County line) we stopped to check more shorebirds and
waterfowl along the road when Victor spotted two pretty EARED GREBES in
alternate plumage in the middle of 400 plus Ruddy Ducks in a flooded field.
Also two Horned Grebes here that were still in basic plumage, a pair of
Black-necked Stilts and 80 plus Golden Plovers.
Near Robinson Bayou in Lake County we stopped briefly this evening and
counted 280 American Golden Plovers (just short of 500 for the day) and 3
Least Sandpipers for the 11th species of shorebird for the day.
Complete lists and locations are all on ebird. Ruben Stoll, Centerville
Tennessee.
