I’m a bit tardy in posting this field trip report that Mary Ann Good sent in (I was away on vacation) but given the rarity I wanted to be sure to pass on the news. This is how many of us start out as casual birders, watching the backyard birds and then get hooked:
Seventeen birders, led by Joe Coleman and Mary Ann Good on Sept 7, were treated to spectacular views of a fresh winter-plumaged STILT SANDPIPER which Jon Little first picked out from among several Lesser Yellowlegs. The up-close-and-personal looks and the proximity to the Lessers gave opportunity to see every distinctive detail of this bird that was a lifer for many of us.
We saw several other shorebirds but few migrant passerines. The species we observed and approx. counts are:
Great Egret – 1, Green Heron – 5, Turkey Vulture – 4, Canada Goose – 1, Mallard – 8, Bald Eagle – 1 adult, Red-shouldered Hawk – 1 adult, Red-tailed Hawk – 1 juv., Virginia Rail – 1 calling from the marsh, Killdeer – ~35, Greater Yellowlegs – 2, Lesser Yellowlegs – 8, Solitary Sandpiper – 1, Spotted Sandpiper – 1, Semipalmated Sandpiper – 2, Least Sandpiper – 6, STILT SANDPIPER – 1, Mourning Dove – 6, Chimney Swift – 2, Belted Kingfisher – 1, E. Wood-Pewee – 1, Willow Flycatcher – 1, E. Phoebe – 2, Blue Jay – 3, Am. Crow – 3, Barn Swallow – 4, Car. Chickadee – 2, Tufted Titmouse – 1, Carolina Wren – 3, E. Bluebird – 2, Am. Robin – 1, Catbird – 5, Eur. Starling – 3, Cedar Waxwing – 2, Common Yellowthroat – 4, Song Sparrow – 2, No. Cardinal – 3, Am. Goldfinch – 4