I had the chance to travel the 10 mile OSV area of Assateague Island in MD to
the State Line with Virginia on August 1. I walked an additional 1.5 miles
into VA (below the high tide line). Although I stayed on the beach the entire
time, I saw a good diversity of shorebirds -- fall migration is underway.
Overall 10 species of Sandpipers. I found some that only infrequently use
beach habitat, semipalmated sandpipers, and SB Dowitchers. Good numbers of
Whimbrels (33) and Willets (38). Typical assortments of BB Plovers,
Semipalmated Plovers, American Oystercatchers (including one banded one (PJ),
Turnstones, and an impressive number of Sanderlings (1,400+). Of special
interest to me were the 21 Red Knots -- all adults.
Also of note, four species of terns: Forster's, Common, Least, and Royal. All
expected species of gulls -- including lesser black backed. Distribution was
similar on both sides of the border.
Chincoteague was crowded -- with post-pony penning visitors, so I skipped the
beach and Swan's Cove. I briefly scanned the 175 Causeway -- BN Stilts are
still around, Least Sandpipers are in the marshes with growing numbers of peeps
-- too distant to ID.
I've included a link to my photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73831614@N00/sets/72157656252881930
Bill
