Here are two photographs from Saturday morning at the Wastewater. I'm not one to I.D. shorebirds, but after consulting some books I'm counting this as a Baird's Sandpiper. It was foraging along the north side of the west lagoon after Jim Ponshair and the feral cat (see comments for details) and before Tom Beeke and the Hudsonian Godwits (which reportedly departed by Labor Day).
- Ric
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On Saturday I parked between the west lagoon and the westernmost churning lagoon, then walked east almost to the first churning lagoon and back again looking unsuccessfully for Mike Boston's black-bellied plover. About half way back I saw a feral cat sneaking eastward toward me through the weeds along the edge. Unfortunately he also saw me and ran back west. Expletive deleted! There were already precious few birds along there and a sprinting cat would probably eliminate all! But I still did find a few including this "Baird's" which I'm I.D.ing now using books for comparison. I think the wing length eliminates peeps and at least three features eliminate White-rumped: (1) brownish color, (2) light spot above the line before the eye and slightly covering that line, and (3) all-black lower beak where it meets the face. Comments appreciated from anyone who can do shorebirds! Feller, Charlie and Ken need not worry even if I'm right. This would only be my 181st Michigan Year Bird!
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