Shorebirds continue to be plentiful on Chincoteague NWR and the surrounding
marshes and flats. Shorebirds included large numbers of Semipalmated
Sandpipers (probably 50% of all of the shorebirds present); Dunlin, Ruddy
turnstones, Dowitchers (I only heard short-billed); Willets -- atlantic and one
holdout Western; Black Bellied Plovers; Least Sandpipers; Both Yellowlegs --
mostly Greater; Oystercatchers; Semipalmated Plovers; Piping Plovers; Spotted
Sandpipers; Black Necked Stilts on the main causeway and two on the flats of
the wildlife loop; Whimbrel -- in the marshes of Tom's Cove; Marbled Godwit --
9 on the flats of Tom's Cove; and Sanderlings on the beaches and behind Tom's
Cove. Two of the rarer sandpipers also made an appearance -- a couple of White
Rumped Sandpipers came close in for id on the South side of the wildlife loop;
and 4 Stilt Sandpipers were identifiable out on the flats of the loop. I
missed out on Red Knots -- but they should be coming through on the beaches.
Other birds of note -- lots of Glossy Ibis and a few White Ibis. Chats are
breeding by the beach at D-Dike, along with Prairie Warblers and Field
Sparrows. A lone gull billed tern was mixed in with the Skimmers and Forster's
at Queens landing. Horned Larks in the sand behind the south parking lot.
Black Crowned Night Heron along Beach Drive. A lone Tundra Swan remains on
Swan's Cove (of course)-- could be injured?
All and all ... great birding.
Check out the photos on my flickr page.... there is a set of the "Early Black
Bellied Plover catching the Worm" (and then not knowing what to do with it!).
I couldn't believe it when I was shooting it.
Bill
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73831614@N00/sets/72157651185036314
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73831614@N00/sets/72157653502439572
