I birded around the south impoundment at Craney Island this morning from
0700 to 0940. There was a fair amount of water on the roads, so I did not
want to risk getting my car stuck. Earlier this week, I looked,
unsuccessfully, for the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Birds appear a little
different than the description in the field guides to me, and having never
seen this particular species, I would enjoy hearing about the behavior and
ID markings noted on this individual.
The number of duck species has increased as noted by others. I had a
wonderful view of a Bobolink from 30 feet today and have heard small flocks
flying overhead earlier in the week. I managed to walk about halfway down
the dike road that borders the south impoundment on the north side. A
Peregrine Falcon was harassing the shorebirds and appeared intent on getting
a kill, but I lost sight of it in the flurry of bird movement. It was a
very dark individual, perhaps a young bird? Even though walking everywhere
took a lot of time, I really enjoyed walking. An adult Gull-billed Tern was
busy chaperoning two young Gull-bills. And, as usual, I took a few minutes
to listen to the Royal and Caspian Terns that are presently at Craney. I
did not see any Osprey, which was strange, but did see a Boat-tailed Grackle
(I don't remember it being there the past few weeks). Brown Pelicans were
on the beach, and the usual E. Starling flock was about. With the wind,
there were few mosquitos bothering me. I have included the shorebirds seen.
All sightings are from the south impoundment.
Black-bellied Plover - 5 flew overhead
Semipalmated Plover - numerous
American Avocet - 1 in water, west end
Greater Yellowlegs - numerous
Lesser Yellowlegs - numerous, I think in larger numbers than Greater
Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 on western shoreline
Ruddy Turnstone - >3
Red Knot - 4 on western shoreline
Sanderling - >10
Pectoral Sandpiper - >20
White-rumped Sandpiper - >15, I was surprised by the high number
Semipalmated Sandpiper - very numerous
Least Sandpiper - very numerous
Stilt Sandpiper - >30
Short-billed Dowitcher - >3, on western shoreline
Wilson's Phalarope - 1, swimming in water next to western shoreline
Red-necked Pharalope - 6, swimming in water near the A. Avocet
Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA
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