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Bill Fenimore, Brian Currie and I embarked on
a Red Knot search along Antelope Island Causeway this afternoon. We were
not rewarded for our diligence with Red Knots. However, we were rewarded
with warm sunshine, a cool breeze, and other shorebirds of the expected
varieties for this time of year.
The difference in the number of peeps in just an
hour or two was staggering. On the way out we found a total of 8
peeps--all Western Sandpipers--along both sides of the entire 7 miles of
road. By the time we turned back hundreds of Sanderlings, Western
Sandpipers, and 3 Dunlins occupied the spit that stretches north toward
Fremont Island between mm 1 and 2. We continued to see Sanderlings and
Western Sandpipers along the north shore for several miles on our return to the
east.
We saw several Long-billed
Dowitchers along the Causeway and more dowitchers along the island shore
southeast of the Visitor's Center, Willets throughout, two Long-billed Curlews
flying southeast of the Visitor's Center, American Avocets, Killdeer, and
Black-necked Stilts. We found 8 Black-bellied Plovers about 400 yards off
the Causeway southeast of the "No Swimming" bridge between mm 5 and
4. Yes, they were really far and realistically, too far to determine if
any plover species other than Black-bellied was present. At the same
distance, we also saw a flock of 30-40 large brown-buffy shorebirds that were
likely Marbled Godwits. Hope that the lake level rises to bring the water
line closer to the Causeway in the area the Black-bellied Plovers seem to
prefer.
Our waterfowl and water bird sightings included
Eared Grebes, a pair of Blue-winged Teal sleeping on the shore on the north side
at around mm 3, Mallards, Gadwall, Canada Geese, California Gulls,
Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, White-faced Ibis and American
White Pelicans.
Drier-habitat sightings included Jack Binch, a
Horned Lark, American Kestrels, Brewer's, Red-winged, and Yellow-headed
Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Western Meadowlarks, Barn Swallows, Western
Kingbirds, and a Loggerhead Shrike. We also heard a Chukar and a Rock Wren
east the Visitor's Center.
When you visit, be prepared for the flies.
They billowed along the Causeway in black clouds, black waves, black strands,
and black formations. Expect to snort 'em, eat 'em, breathe 'em,
smash 'em, dash 'em, and mash 'em.
Kris
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