November 4th Morning

Brief but productive birding in the refuge this morning (~9-noon).

East River Pool – all of these birds were resting or feeding in the pool and most were in the distant NW portion: one Snow/Ross’ Goose (too distant to resolve), 6 species of duck, 10-15 Wood Stork, 6 Roseate Spoonbill, 2 White Pelican, 15 Plegadis ibis (most too distant to resolve but at least a couple each of Glossy and Wh-faced) hundreds of coots, 8 Am. Avocets. Vermilion Flycatcher perching on fishing pier and working the edge of ERP.

North end of Mounds #1 – 21 Avocets, Long-billed Dowitchers, many herons and egrets.

Tower Pond – at about 10 am, 4 1/2 hrs after high tide in the bay. 1500 to 2000 shorebirds, Dunlin by far the most common. Bl-bellied and Semi-palm Plovers, Marbled Godwit, both Dowitchers, Willet, Gr. Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper. Incredibly, not a single Least Sandpiper.

South end of Mounds #3 – Mallard, Pintail, Am. Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Bl and Gr-winged Teal, Redhead; numbers increased from Saturday

Lighthouse Pool was quiet, but had an Avocet and a few Black Skimmers.

I did not scan the bay because the lighthouse parking lot was overflowing with Packards and Packard enthusiasts.