Temp in the 40s, overcast with some sun in the afternoon, Winds North 10-20 mph
Still no Asian passerines.
At the Airport Ditch this morning we had 2 Wood Sandpipers.
Wood Sandpiper, Airport Ditch, May 29, 2019
Here is my mandatory annual photo of a Rock Sandpiper.
Rock Sandpiper, Sweeper Channel, May 29, 2019
And here is a better photo of the American and Eurasian Green-winged Teals.
American Green-winged Teal (left) and Eurasian Green-winged Teal (Common Teal), Airport Ditch, May 29, 2019
The Tundra Swan was still at the Marsh this morning, but there were no Pacific Golden-Plovers or Pectoral Sandpiper.
John and Claire had a Wandering Tattler out on the Clam Lagoon Peninsula, but it was gone by the time I got there.
Just before today’s flight arrived, we were at the Sweeper Channel and had another Short-eared Owl flush! It disappeared up on the side of the creek, so we drove around to the other side and I walked over to where I thought I last saw it and it flushed and flew over the old (closed) runway – giving me photo opportunities.
Short-eared Owl, near Sweeper Channel, May 29, 2019
Short-eared Owl, near Sweeper Channel, May 29, 2019
Short-eared Owl, near Sweeper Channel, May 29, 2019
Short-eared Owl, near Sweeper Channel, May 29, 2019 (Bird Quiz, anyone?)
Short-eared Owl, near Sweeper Channel, May 29, 2019
Short-eared Owl, near Sweeper Channel, May 29, 2019
Later, we saw Lisa (from the Fish and Wildlife Service) at the airport and she told us there were a lot of Short-ears around this year. This was our third this trip and we are only four days in!
John and Claire called us to say they saw three Whimbrel fly off near the gas station area. We looked for them later, but with no success.
All of the other birders here left on today’s flight and Jon, Jim, and Chris arrived and we filled them in on the lack of birds. Let’s hope the brought a change of luck!
After dinner we went back up to the lagoon and found the Bar-tailed Godwits were still here. Only one was reported this morning and we hadn’t seen any.
No new birds today.