Shorebirds

["Colby Neuman" <scythebill83 at hotmail dot com>]

For those that have not been to Bear River lately ABSOLUTELY HAVE to make a 
trip in the next couple of weeks.  The shorebird numbers are incredible to 
say the least.  The auto-tour unit is probably less than 1/2 full providing 
excellent shorebird habitat.  Yesterday, I went to the refuge to show my dad 
the awesome sight.  American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts and White-faced 
Ibis were there in the thousands.  Marbled Godwits numbers were probably 
over 1000, too.  However, the most impressive display were the "peeps".  
There were well over 10,000 and it definitely would not surprise me to find 
out their numbers were in the 20000's.  A lot of the birds were too far away 
to pick anything unusual out.  However, the water levels had lowered 
significantly in just the last 4 days (since Thursday of last week) forcing 
the birds closer to the road on the south end.  As the water lowers even 
furthur over the next week or two, birders will have a great opportunity to 
see large numbers of shorebirds at a relatively close range (similar to 
areas in Texas & California).  Other shorebirds at the refuge included both 
yellowlegs (dozens), there were about 100 Westerns & 15 Leasts out of the 
peeps that were in scope range, 1 basic plumaged Sanderling, 4 Snowy Plover, 
25 Spotted Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalaropes (dozens), Willets (dozens), 
Long-billed Dowitcher (10) and one Long-billed Curlew.  Also, there were 
Bonaparte's Gulls and Black Terns at the refuge, too.

THE BEST OF GOOD BIRDING!!!

Colby

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