White-winged Scoters
Willet (click to see the larger version)
Willets are on the move through the Chicago area. I had this adult inside the protected area on the beach this morning, July 13. The other bird in the photo is a Least Sandpiper.
eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30672844
Short-billed Dowitcher (click to see the larger version)
It seems like just yesterday we were talking about the last of the spring shorebirds. They don’t waste any time, do they. Short-billed Dowitcher at Montrose Beach, July 7, 2016
Semipalmated Sandpiper (click to see the larger version)
I went over to Montrose Beach this morning, June 13, to look for lingering shorebirds and found this Semipalmated Sandpiper. Here we are 2 weeks into June and we’re still getting migrating shorebirds. What’s even more amazing is that the first southbound shorebirds will start showing up within a couple weeks.
Last of the last?
Addendum
I had 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers at Montrose on June 14, the last migrant shorebirds I had for the spring of 2016.
Willet (click to see the larger version)
Shorebirds are still moving through northern Illinois. This morning, June 10, I had a Willet, a Dunlin, 8 Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Least Sandpiper, a White-rumped Sandpiper, and 3 Semipalmated Plovers in the fluddle at Montrose Beach in Chicago. The Chicago Park District is draining the fluddle so it may not be around much longer.
When it comes to migration the fat lady never sings.
White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpipers (click to see the larger version)
I had a nice collection of shorebirds at Montrose Beach this afternoon, June 1, including 3 White-rumped Sandpipers, 4 Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Dunlin, and 2 Semipalmated Plovers. All of these birds were in the fluddle, just west of the beach house.
Just because it’s June doesn’t mean migration has stopped.
Laughing Gull (click to see the larger version)
The 2 American Avocets found this morning (May 28) at Montrose Beach were still there as of 4:30 p.m. Both birds were in the fluddle just west of the beach house. I also had an adult Laughing Gull in the fluddle in the same area as the avocets. A couple kids flushed the bird but it relanded and joined a group of Ring-billed Gulls near the volleyball nets.