A search of the wet and grassy areas in and around Fields 7 and 8, as well as the roadway median at Heckscher State Park failed to turn up the Buff-breasted Sandpiper seen yesterday. But in the process I observed 12 other species of shorebird. Aside from Sanderlings along the bay beachfront and a Solitary Sandpiper in a wet spot in the median, all the species seen were in or near the grassy rain pools in Field 7. The number and diversity of shorebirds were the highest I've ever experienced at HSP. The sound of calling and squabbling shorebirds reminded me of Jamaica Bay. The birds were so intent on feeding that passing cars, bicyclists, and even me on foot, did not seem to faze them much. Lesser Yellowlegs were the most abundant species present, with both adults and juveniles well represented. Peeps were too abundant (especially Least) and moving around through the grass too much to get an accurate count.
Semipalmated Plover 3 Killdeer 10 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 40 Sanderling 12 Semipalmated Sandpiper X Least Sandpiper X White-rumped Sandpiper 1 (1 adult) Pectoral Sandpiper 2 (1 adult, 1 juvenile) Short-billed Dowitcher 2 (juveniles) Wilson¹s Snipe 1 Photos of 6 of the above species can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgluth_brb/sets/72157627577391206/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
