A New Shorebird Spot!

I've been trying to keep momentum going here over the last week or so since my last post. You may recall from last time that I was lamenting that my main shorebird spot still had high water. Well, I've been watching a low flooded area in a soybean field that is close by on my way to work for some time, and kept thinking I was seeing shorebirds mixed in with the usual Canada Geese. Finally, while going to the gym on Saturday, I decided to bring my binoculars. I'm really glad that I did - a flock of at least 50 shorebirds were there! I burned through my workout and rushed back home, then hopped on my bike to ride back. 

Thankfully, there is a decent spot to get off the road a bit there for safety's sake, which is good. There were a pretty good variety of shorebirds there. Small flocks of Least and Pectoral Sandpipers, plus a few Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Plovers, and of course Killdeer. None of these were new species, but I decided to keep a close eye on this spot as long as it stays wet and check it every day.

It might not look like much, but you have to take what you can get for shorebirds in Minnesota.

I went back on Sunday around the same time and was happy to see comparable numbers present. As I got my scope on the flock, a few larger shorebirds immediately jumped into focus. One chunky shorebird was making a "sewing motion" while feeding and had a long, straight bill. A dowitcher! I still needed Long-billed Dowitcher. Identification of Short-billed vs. Long-billed Dowitcher can be tough, especially in fall. This bird was no different. Thankfully, their calls are quite different, and when it flushed, it made a distinctive "keek" call which nailed it for Long-billed. Excellent! My first new shorebird since the spring, and I was especially happy since I was beginning to give up hope with the flooding. 

Another taller, thinner bird came into view. At first I thought it was a Lesser Yellowlegs, but then I saw it's bill - long and slightly decurved. The facial pattern came into better view as it turned towards me. A young Stilt Sandpiper! Another new "green" shorebird! Now I was really thrilled. I'm definitely going to keep checking this place until it dries up (which unfortunately, it is, despite more rain). 

There is a Stilt Sandpiper in this digi-scope. Really, there is! 


Later that day, I rode over to Louisville Swamp, partly to check and see what the mudflats looked like there for later, and partly hoping to stumble into something. I had to dodge new traffic cones for the Renaissance Fest that has started up nearby, but I made it over just fine. There wasn't much new there from last time right away, although a few Olive-sided Flycatchers were fun to watch and listen to. American Robins were hanging around on the trails in groups by the dozen. Migration is coming...

I met my son there and we walked down to the water, where previously you couldn't even see the causeway that goes through the large wetland there. I was happy to see that while the water was still high and there weren't any flats to speak of, it had dropped quite a bit. If it keeps dropping, maybe I'll get some more shorebirds there yet. We decided to stay there for a while a see what flew over. 

This was all under water last time. Getting better.

A juvenile Northern House Wren noisily begged for food nearby, and the American Goldfinches were still squabbling and chasing each other. These late nesters don't breed until later due to their seed-focused diet (even in the summer). A loud rattle came from the timber along the flooded creek channel nearby - Red-headed Woodpecker! While not a new bird, seeing this species around the Twin Cities area is always a treat. Great Egrets and Trumpeter Swans flew from one side of the wetland to the other, and American White Pelican flocks circled overhead.

"What's that?" asked my son. I turned around to get an ever so quick look at a large, light tern before it disappeared behind the trees. Caspian Tern! I was hoping for this. Three new green species in the same day. Not bad this late in the year. I hoped to get a better look at it, but after another 25-30 minutes or so waiting, nothing else new flew by, other than some Franklin's and Ring-billed Gulls. We decided to head back and get out of the sun. It was getting hot. 

Feed me. Feed me. Feed me. Feed me. Juvenile Northern House Wren

Since then, I've been back twice to the bean field "fluddle" on the highway. The shorebirds are still there, and the composition has shifted a little bit, but I haven't seen anything new since Sunday. If it keeps drying up, it will likely be gone by the end of the week. I'll keep trying, and maybe I can squeeze another new species out of there before it goes completely dry. Maybe an American Golden-Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Wilson's Phalarope or, dare I hope - a Buff-breasted Sandpiper?!?

Anyways, I'm up to 213 species now with those three new ones on Sunday. It continues to be a really fun effort, and I'm so glad I decided to do this. Until next time!





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