Black-bellied Plovers

["Kristin Purdy" <kristinpurdy at comcast dot net>]

Yesterday around 5:00 pm, I counted 314 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS far south 
of Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County between mile 5 and 6.  
Finding and watching this long line of birds was not an endeavor for 
either eyeball or binoculars birding.  A scope is necessary.  The 
plovers were easily 4 to 500 yards out; perhaps farther.  The line of 
birds was strung out a long distance, but they showed typical plover 
behavior--running a short distance and picking up items from the ground, 
and typical silhouette--plump but elegant.  It was also possible to see 
the sharp contrast between the black breasts/bellies down to the legs 
and the white aft of the legs.  I found some birds closer at mile 5.6 
where it was easier to distinguish between males and females.  A short, 
knotted line of dowitchers was also mixed in with the plovers and a few 
flocks of peeps coursed over all and landed on the mud flats.

Kris

_______________________________________________

"Utah Birds" web site: http://www.utahbirds.org
     BirdTalk:
To subscribe, e-mail:  birdtalk-subscribe@utahbirds.org
To unsubscribe, e-mail:  birdtalk-unsubscribe@utahbirds.org
To send a message, e-mail:  birdtalk@utahbirds.org
_________________________________________________