15 Buff-breasted Sandpipers - Monroe Co.

[Jerry Jourdan]

Birders,

I drove by Pt. Mouillee this morning, and not seeing any cars at Mouillee I
took the bike up the Middle Causeway to Cell 3.
The SE corner of the Long Pond Unit held (4) BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and (2)
AMERICAN PIPITS.  The Lead Unit hosted
(4) LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS in basic plumage, along with (8) GREATER
YELLOWLEGS.

I found the following shorebirds in Cell 3:

(2) RED KNOTS
(2) DUNLIN in basic plumage
(2) RUDDY TURNSTONES
(5) WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS
(6) BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS
(4) STILT SANDPIPERS
(10) SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS

While riding back from the east dike of Cell 3 I literally rode into a flock
of (15) juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS that were roosting next to the
dirt piles in the NE corner of the Cell.  They flushed in front of me and
flew a short distance and hunkered down in the grasses where a few
individuals flashed their wings several times.  As I approached they flushed
again, this time giving me a chance to count 15 birds as they flew in a
tight formation out into Cell 3, out over Lake Erie, back again before
disappearing south.

I managed a few flight flight shots and will post them as soon as I make
room on the harddrive for them.

I'll post more pics on the blog.

Jerry
http://jerryjourdan.blogspot.com
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