Midsummer means shorebirding in these parts. Some of you may be stifling a yawn at the very thought of parsing peeps, while others may be thrilled that those little brown beachcombers have finally found your part of the world. Either way, birders gotta bird, so make the most of whatever the season offers.
I heard about some extraordinary (for Rochester) shorebirds up at Braddock Bay, but all I earned for my efforts this weekend were a few Semipalmated Sandpipers. Corey spent time on both Saturday and Sunday morning looking at shorebirds on the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Though he didn’t find anything particularly noteworthy he did enjoy seeing lots of Stilt Sandpipers which he decided was his Best Bird of the Weekend. There are more than one in the photo above: can you find them all?
How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend? Tell us in the comments section about the rarest, loveliest, or most fascinating bird you observed. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment.
I’m embarrassed to say that this was only my second foray of the year into the Wissahickon Valley Park (because #toddlermom). Hence why in late July I am only just getting my (heard) FOY Eastern Wood Pewee and Acadian Flycatcher. Man, since having a kid I suck as a birder.
I have to go with a successful Twitch, finding a single (literally) Solitary Sandpiper in a piece of agricultural property that had a small flooded area. With the current PNW heat, that spot will gone in a few days.