6 Hours of Birding

A few highlights from about 6 hours of birding the refuge today.

East River Pool – Am. Flamingo, four Wilson’s Phalaropes (2 males and 2 females; in Phalaropes, the females are showy, the males drab), Black-necked Stilts

Stony Bayou #1 – in late morning, the tide was high in the bay, and shorebirds were numerous here. Unfortunately, the backlighting is horrendous for morning viewing of SB #1. Dowitchers, Dunlin, Willet, Least and Semi-palm Sands, Wilson’s, Semi-palm, and Bl-Bellied Plovers, Least Terns. Look hard, I’m sure you’ll find something I missed.

Mounds, Tower trails – few passerines. Blackpoll, B &W, Pine Warblers (other birders reported a couple other species), three Rose-br Grosbeak. Three Seaside Sparrows in the salt marsh outside Tower and Mounds #3. Whimbrel on the flats. Both Yellowlegs, previously mentioned shorebirds, Black-necked Stilts, and an imm. white phase Reddish Egret on south end of Mounds #3.

Picnic area – first year Orchard Oriole and a gorgeously petechiated male Yellow Warbler; flyover Common Nighthawk

Lighthouse Pool – Two male Scaup sp., six Red-br Mergs, imm. dark phase Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Skimmers, Royal and Forster’s Terns, five Marbled Godwits, Turnstones

The refuge is much more crowded than usual, with most of the activity around the lighthouse. Be mindful of traffic – many of the folks now visiting the refuge are not your typical refuge visitor and a lot of them are speeding and impatient with wildlife watchers. They are in a hurry to get to the “beach”, lighthouse, or boat ramp.