White-winged Scoters
Willets (click to see the larger version)
Larry Krutulis found 3 Willets inside the protected area at Montrose Beach earlier today, and they were still there late this afternoon. I also had 2 subadult Forster’s Terns inside the protected area. The Willets and the Least Sandpipers Larry also had are almost certainly early southbound migrants. Both species are among the first shorebirds we see in the summer.
Semipalmated Sandpiper (click to see the larger version)
I saw a late (or early) Semipalmated Sandpiper on the beach inside the protected area this afternoon. We’re in a gray period for shorebird migration now and determining which way they’re going can be difficult. If I had to guess I’d say this bird is a very late northbound migrant, though if it showed up a week from now I’d lean more towards an early fall migrant. There was also a fledgling Spotted Sandpiper running around on the beach inside the protected area.
Bonapartes Gulls (click to see the larger version)
Four second calendar year Bonaparte’s Gulls were on the beach inside the protected area at Montrose late this afternoon. Two Semipalmated Plovers were also inside the protected area. The Curve-billed Thrasher continues near the Magic Hedge.
The Curve-billed Thrasher was obviously the big story at Montrose today but there were a few other birds of interest. Late this afternoon I had 6 Semipalmated and 1 White-rumped Sandpiper inside the protected area at the east end of the beach. This might be the latest spring White-rumped I’ve ever seen. Also, the continuing female Red-breasted Merganser was inside the harbor.
I went over to Montrose late this afternoon to see what was around. Three Semipalmated Sandpipers were inside the protected area at the east end of the beach. On land I heard a Dickcissel calling from the trees inside the forbidden area and I saw a Great Crested Flycatcher in the Magic Clump. The biggest surprise was a male Yellow-rumped Warbler in the peripheral plantings. On my way back I stopped at the Golf Course Pond and had 5 Black-crowned Night-Herons.
I birded Montrose for a little while this morning, June 6. At this time of the year I don’t have very high expectations and I go more for the exercise than anything else, but I always take my bins just in case. Here’s what a I had:
Red-breasted Merganser – 1, the continuing female in the lake at the east end of the beach
Green-winged Teal – 1 female in the lake at the east end of the beach
Black-crowned Night-Heron – 1 at the east end of the harbor
Dunlin – 1, the continuing bird in the fluddle next to the fishhook pier inside the protected area
Semipalmated Sandpiper – 16 on the beach inside the protected area
Great Crested Flycatcher – 1
Alder Flycatcher – 1
Blue Jay – 1
Mourning Warbler – 2, 1 female and 1 male
Dickcissel – 1
The nesting Red-winged Blackbirds are now in kamikaze mode. I was repeatedly dive bombed by an aggressive male near the forbidden zone.