Yeah right, seems awful early - caught me by surprise as well. In an afternoon run to check shorebird habitat in southwestern Weld Co. today (Fri., 16 Aug), came across three (3) sleeping medium sized, dumpy, uniform brownish-grey shorebirds mixed in with some KILLDER and WILSON’S PHALAROPEs at Stewart’s Pond (Weld CR 46 & ~37). Had me stumped until one raised its head to look around showing off a rather heavy, long black bill which drooped towards the end – DUNLIN!! This time of the year would expect a Stilt Sandpiper, but these guys had shorter legs than the phalaropes they were standing with (couldn’t determine color as there was grass in the way), plus when they perked up did not have the long neck of that species. A second of the three finally raised its head to reveal a very long heavy bill (2X head length) that only drooped at the tip – probably a female; the third must have been too beat to bother. As all of these birds were adults in basic plumage, my guess is they may have been non-breeders to explain the very early date.
In terms of shorebird habitat out there, it was a feast-or-famine situation. Many of the swales and flooded fields I was hoping had refilled with the recent storms remained dry while most of the more permenant ponds were pretty full. The exception was Ireland Reservoir (Weld CR 49 just north of HW 52) which has a very low pool/extensive mudflats for some reason so definitely worth checking regularly. While shorebird numbers and diversity weren’t great today, still had some fun ones besides the Dunlin including AMERICAN AVOCETs, BLACK-NECKED STILTs, and a few WILLETs, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERs, and GREATER YELLOWLEGs.
So worth a check of your favorite shorebirding spot as they are on the move.
Good Birding,
Doug
Denver (this week)
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