September 24, 2016

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Eastern Whip-poor-will (click to see the larger version)

I spent almost 4 hours at Montrose this morning, September 24. I didn’t have high hopes because of the east winds but it turned out to be a good day. I ended up with 61 species, my best count this fall so far. Highlights include Osprey, Eastern Whip-poor-will (see photo), Wood Thrush, Clay-colored Sparrow, Sedge Wren, and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Link to eBird checklist below.

eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31731653

American Golden-Plover, September 20, 2016

American Golden-Plover

American Golden-Plover (click to see the larger version)

I went over to Montrose late this afternoon, September 20, to look for the juvenile American Golden-Plover reported earlier in the day. I found the bird at the west end of the beach, standing and walking among beachgoers. It seemed content, despite all the people using the beach. American Golden-Plovers are uncommon but regular fall visitors to Montrose.

Nelson’s Sparrows, September 17, 2016

Black-bellied Plover

Black-bellied Plover (click to see the larger version)

Montrose was pretty good this morning, September 17. I ended up with 58 species in about 4 hours of birding the Point. Swainson’s Thrushes and Palm Warblers were the most obvious, but the 8 – 10 Nelson’s Sparrows were the highlight for me. All these birds were in the Dunes and most were in the western panne. These are the first Nelson’s Sparrows I’ve seen at Montrose this fall. When it rains it pours I guess. Other goodies include a flyover American Golden-Plover, Merlin, several Bobolinks, Dickcissel, Marsh Wren, and a variety of warblers.

eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31620618

Late Summer 2016 Sunrises

Sunrise Over Montrose Beach

Sunrise Over Montrose Beach (click to see the larger version)

We’ve had some spectacular and dramatic sunrises in August and September. I snapped this one from Montrose Beach with my cell phone on the morning of September 1, 2016.

White-rumped Sandpiper, September 7, 2016

White-rumped Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper (click to see the larger version)

I had a molting adult White-rumped Sandpiper at Montrose Beach late this afternoon, September 7. The bird was in the fluddle at the west end of the beach with a group of other shorebirds – Sanderlings, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Semipalmated Plovers. White-rumped Sandpipers are rare at Montrose in the fall.

Shorebirds, September 1, 2016

Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone (click to see the larger version)

Decent numbers of shorebirds have been at Montrose Beach the last few days, including Semipalmated Plovers, Sanderlings, Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, and Ruddy Turnstones. Most of these birds have been using the fluddle at the west end of the beach, but small numbers have also been at the east end of the beach next to the fishing pier, including the juvenile Ruddy Turnstone pictured here. Also, the overwhelming majority of shorebirds are now juveniles, as would be expected at this time of the year.