Shorebird Survey: Aug. 12 - Sept. 14

Shorebird diversity and numbers have been very high this fall at the Muskegon Wastewater System. Due largely to exceptional results from August, this season's Shorebird Survey is shaping up to be the best since we formally established the project in 2005. Since my last post on August 4, four more sessions have been completed:

August 12 (Micah Petersen and me): 799 birds of 15 species

August 24 (Micah Petersen and me): 766 birds of 19 species

September 7 (me): 220 birds of 13 species

September 14 (me): 211 birds of 13 species

The bird tally from August 12 establishes a new record, and the species total from August 24 matches our previous best.

Cumulatively, we have seen 3,237 shorebirds of 23 species this season. This already far exceeds the past seasonal high count of 1,938 birds from 2009, but we remain two species behind the record total set that same fall.

Noteworthy results from the last four visits include:

American Golden-Plover - 21 on August 24

Killdeer - 207 on August 12 (new high count)

Solitary Sandpiper - 8 on August 24 (new high count)

Lesser Yellowlegs - 223 from August 24 (new high count)

Upland Sandpiper - 1 on August 24 (record late)

Red Knot - 1 on September 14

Semipalmated Sandpiper - 95 on August 24

Least Sandpiper - 122 on August 12

Bairds's Sandpiper 27 on August 24

Pectoral Sandpiper - 169 on August 12 (new high count)

Stilt Sandpiper - 10 on August 24

Buff-breasted Sandpiper - 1 on September 14

Red-necked Phalarope - 23 on August 24

Also, today's survey produced an early Snow Goose and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.

- Brian Johnson

Same Day: Travis Dewys digiscoped this photo of the Red Knot in the SE corner of the East Lagoon.  He apologized for its blurriness, but no need for apology.  Thanks!  When you "Open link in new window" and then magnify per the directions above left, this bird fills your monitor, so any blurriness hardly matters.  - Ric