Friday, April 24, 2015

Godwit Replaces Avocets at Wastewater Today



Marc Miedema planned to bird all day.  I accompanied him from 6:15 until 11:40 from Lane's Landing (34 species) to the State Game Area headquarters (38 species).

Highlights at Lane's included an American Bittern (not the one above; see sidebar) "thunder-pumping" as it peeked over the grass tops, Virginia Rail, Sora, Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and a pair of Great Horned Owls whooting at each other at 8:45 a.m.! and several Blue-winged Teal.


At SGA we heard what sounded like a Common Loon calling from the "snipe field" west of the headquarters.  A Wilson's Snipe winnowed over the south end of that field.  We also saw Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Hermit Thrush, and at least three Red-tailed Hawks.  


Marc continued on to the Wastewater while I went home and found Terra Berry's email including several photos from yesterday at the Wastewater including this Horned Grebe and American Avocet:



Finally, at 3:15 Feller DeWitt phoned to report a Marbled Godwit in the same aeration lagoon that the American Avocets had been in yesterday.  He said the avocets were gone.  I don't know if he and Marc saw each other out there.

- Ric

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