[Andy Wraithmell]

Still counting shorebirds at the refuge on a regular basis. Today's highlights:

1 Wilson's Phalarope (fem)
17 Stilt Sandpiper
2 Red Knot
4 Wilson's Plover
2 Gull-billed Tern
11 Least Tern
11 American White Pelican
9 Sora
4 Orchard Oriole
1 Blue Grosbeak
1 Common Nighthawk
1 Least Bittern
18 Redhead
5 Greater Scaup
3 Red-breasted Merganser
1 Bobcat

shorebird numbers were dominated by Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher & Semipalmated Sandpiper

Water levels dropping to alarming levels...we need rain bad!

[Andy Wraithmell]

Shorebird count on Memorial Day included

28 White-rumped Sandpiper
591 Semipalmated Sandpiper
39 Red Knot
2 Whimbrel

also

6 Reddish Egret
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
5 Gull-billed Tern
11 Least Tern
25 Am. White Pelican
4 Least Bittern
1 Common Nighthawk
23 Greater Scaup
5 Redhead
3 Red-breasted Merganser

more pictures on my Facebook page

[Hamhed]

Hi, Andy -
Wondering if you got rain these last few days?
White-rumped Sandpiper would be a new bird for me. It seems kind of late for them to be moving through St. Mark's. Did your count happen down by the lighthouse?

Steve

[Andy Wraithmell]

Originally Posted by Hamhed

Hi, Andy -
Wondering if you got rain these last few days?
White-rumped Sandpiper would be a new bird for me. It seems kind of late for them to be moving through St. Mark's. Did your count happen down by the lighthouse?

Steve

Not late at all Steve, we typically get them through the first week in June. They were all on Mounds Pool3 except for 1 on Lighthouse Pond. Refuge is in dire need of water...about 24 inches!

[Andy Wraithmell]

2-3 inches of rain has really helped fill up some of the impoundments at the refuge. Today I had

26 White-rumped Sandpipers
3 Roseate Spoonbill
several Reddish Egret
Am. White Pelicans
Greater Scaup
2 Redhead
1 Northern Shoveler
5 Least Bittern