Went with Melissa Penta to Montezuma and Vicinity Today. Started at Knox-Marcellus this morning from Towpath Road. Overcast skies, light breeze and pleasant temperatures made for great viewing. Very little heat shimmer. Spent from 930 am to 1230 pm...where does all the time go when birding?
We did not see anything spectacular or different from what others have had. Some things I have noticed since I have been there last...which was August 18th is that there are far more SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS vs LEASTS. I also noticed more STILT SANDPIPERS and less YELLOWLEGS than before...very few GREATER seem left with mainly LESSER around. There are loads of PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, more than last time. CASPIAN TERNS numbers are down too. The congregation of GREAT BLUE HERONS continues. I did not count them...but there were a lot! Also still many GREAT EGRETS around. We also saw 4 SANDHILL CRANES fly by Puddler's marsh. Is this year is a good year for AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS or I have overlooked them past years?? There are more than I have ever seen at this refuge. We had at least 6...at least... at K-M marsh. There was only 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. Additionally there were many SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and KILLDEER. We also found at least 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS amid mainly SEMIPALAMATED and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. We had only 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and also had one LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER here today. I dipped on the RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, but did get 1 WILSON'S PHALAROPE. We also missed the BUFFED BREASTED SANDPIPERs!! We ran into Steve Kelling here with his son. Nice to see him. Hope he found more after we left! Among the gull sp were the typical RING-BILLED(200+), and HERRING(10-20) with 1 GREATER BLACK BACKED GULL. Waterfowl is increasing...many GREEN-WINGED TEAL and saw my first of fall season NORTHERN SHOVELERS. I was not particularly looking too much at waterfowl today. Could be other species as well. Wildlife drive had more AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS at least 3 more. I was able to get more photos of these guys than any other outing. LaRue's had 2 and Benning had another 1. There were also DOWITCHERS sp.(probably LONG-BILLED) at LaRue's. Benning marsh was again loaded. Many PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, many more SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS vs LEASTS. Also scores of yellowlegs. Snapped a few photos which can be found here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/sets/72157631392207834/ Dave Nicosia Johnson City, NY -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
