Not the birdiest day at the refuge, but four hours of birding starting at ~0930, produced 57 species in 19 families. The tide was quite far out, so the shorebirds and waders were not concentrated in the accessible spots. Following are highlights in order of encounter.
Mounds 1 - three White-faced Ibis were in the company of six Glossy Ibis and another six distant, backlit, and unresolvable Plegadis flew by.
Cedar Point Trail - completely dead (probably doesn't qualify as a highlight) except for three imm. Yellow-crowned Night Herons
Lighthouse Pool - among the many Blue-winged Teal, one N. Pintail, one Am. Wigeon, and three N. Shovelers; two Reddish Egrets; dozens of the expected species of shorebirds, including seven Marbled Godwits; a few dozen Black Skimmers. All of the preceding were being flushed repeatedly by a Bald Eagle, giving good flight views before settling back on the pool. No Franklin's Gull, only two flover Spoonbills, and no flamingo (it apparently was here earlier in the day).
Tower Pond - Given the tide, much better than expected (as was the case on Sunday's refuge tour). Decent numbers of the expected shorebirds and three Am. Avocets, one Black-necked Stilt, four Pectoral Sandpipers, and two (three?) Stilt Sandpipers; two Reddish Egrets.
Matt Johnstone