Wastewater Shorebird Surveys, July 16 and 26

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On July 16 and on July 26, Carolyn Weng and I completed the first two Shorebird Surveys for the fall 2012 season at the Muskegon Wastewater. The seven species encountered on July 16 comprised 84 Killdeer, 84 Spotted Sandpiper, 5 Lesser Yellowlegs, 8 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 73 Least Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, and 1 Short-billed Dowitcher. We also saw two Northern Mockingbirds.

Diversity was higher on July 26, when we recorded 13 species of shorebirds: 2 Semipalmated Plover, 62 Killdeer, 93 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 22 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Sanderling, 10 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 36 Least Sandpiper, 2 Baird's Sandpiper, 20 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Stilt Sandpiper, 1 Short-billed Dowitcher, and 1 Wilson's Phalarope. Notable non-shorebird tallies included 2 Common Ravens, 3 immature Orchard Orioles and 37 adult Sandhill Cranes.

This past spring we counted 896 shorebirds of 17 species during eight surveys from April 3 to June 15. Compared to the previous six years, diversity was slightly above average (15.7 species), and the individual total surpassed our previous high of 878 from 2006. High or above average figures were obtained for all but a few species. Below are the spring 2012 totals, with past averages.

Black-bellied Plover - 6 (average 1.4)
Semipalmated Plover - 36 (average 3.7), new record
Killdeer - 182 (average 140)
Spotted Sandpiper - 207 (average 107), new record
Solitary Sandpiper - 5 (average 0.3), new record
Greater Yellowlegs - 1 (average 3.9
Lesser Yellowlegs - 72 (average 33)
Upland Sandpiper - 13 (average 17)
Ruddy Turnstone - 8 (average 1.6), new record
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 105 (average 81)
Least Sandpiper - 32 (average 26)
White-rumped Sandpiper - 18 (average 13)
Pectoral Sandpiper - 56 (average 3.1), new record
Dunlin - 143 (average 80), new record
Short-billed Dowitcher - 10 (average 1.4), new record
Wilson's Snipe - 1 (average 1.1)
Red-necked Phalarope - 1 (average 0.3)

Cumulatively, we have seen seen 24 shorebird species at the Wastewater during the spring. Our fall total is 27 species.
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- Brian Johnson
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