This morning a herd of birders gathered to scan the Montezuma NWR's shorebirds from Towpath Rd. People included Jay McGowan, Shawn Billerman, Stuart Krasnoff, Susan Danskin, Bob McGuire, Gary Kohlenberg, Ann Mitchell and myself. Birds were much as has been reported of late:
KILLDEER - possibly hundreds
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - Jay mentioned seeing one
SPOTTED SANDPIPER - several
SOLITARY SANDPIPER - at least 1
LESSER YELLOWLEGS - still perhaps the majority: hundreds
GREATER YELLOWLEGS - at least 1
STILT SANDPIPER - at least 3 in view together
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - at least 1
LEAST SANDPIPER - possibly hundreds
PECTORAL SANDPIPER - at least 2
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - at least 1
BLACK TERN - several
The birds at Puddler's were closer than those at Knox-Marsellus to Towpath Rd. I wasn't in on any attempts to view from East Rd.
The birds on the extensive mudflats on Knox-Marsellus would best be viewed legally from a Fish and Wildlife Service vehicle permitted to drive on the dike, but they would still be far enough away not to be bothered if civilians were allowed to walk there. Jay actually had that driving privelege and probably has some more precise numbers of birds. I don't recall any current reports of Sanderling, Baird's Sandpiper, or Wilson's Phalarope, or other shorebird species, but the habitat is extensive in both impoundments, and birds keep moving in and out, so it's worth keeping tabs on the area.
Stuart & I left after briefly checking May's Point Pool (several WOOD DUCKS, GREAT EGRETS & TRUMPETER SWANS and a COMMON MOORHEN) but did not check other areas.
Jay mentioned having seen an adult and a fledgling PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at Armitage Rd, and I see that Susan also added CLAY-COLORED SPARROW to her list, presumably the bird from King Rd, Seneca Falls.
--Dave Nutter
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