A quick detour down to Capeville (just west of the post office, on Capeville
Dr.) found the same juvenile Baird's (now present one week) still among the
many shorebirds gathered at this spot at about 2:00 p.m. I took a roll of
film
of the bird, as it was fairly close to the road. Unlike the other
shorebirds, it popped up and flew a few feet if I tried to get closer, uttering
a
rather squeaky alarm note that's higher in pitch than the regular krreep. But
it
stayed within 20 feet of the road. No White-rumped Sandpiper this time, but
the single juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher is hanging in there. Also 5
Glossy Ibis there today, after we got about 1/2" of rain from Frances this
morning
early. All shorebirds there in roughly the same numbers as 3-8 September,
including the 3 juv. and 1 ad. Stilt Sandpipers. There are still Ruffs being
reported in places to our north, so maybe we're due for one down here soon.
The wind is supposed to turn either NW or NE 5-10 knots overnight, so hopefully
we'll have some new arrivals to compensate us for the departing birds; small
numbers of yellowlegs were noted passing over the platform at Kiptopeke today,
and a flock of 34 departed Capeville when I was there. "Zugunruhe,"
perhaps! Certainly, the birders are getting restless, even if the birds
aren't!
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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