Shore Birds of the EAA

Tuesday, August 12th




Black-necked Stilt

The other day I drove out to the Everglades Ag. Fields in western Palm Beach County to check-out the sod farms and flooded cane fields for migrating swallows, terns and shorebirds. It was kind of a disappointing trip.  Only found a couple of flooded fields, were most of the bird activity was beyond the scope of my bins,  I really need to acquire a spotting scope someday. 

I could find all of the expected waders including wood storks and roseate spoonbills and a few shorebirds including Spotted sandpipers, greater and lesser yellowlegs, killdeers, a great many black-necked stilts,  a possible solitary sandpiper and a dozen Long-billed Dowitchers. Dipped on any whistling ducks or early upland sandpipers.

Greater Yellowlegs

As for terns, I did see a sampling of expected species including - Black, Gull-billed, Least, Forster's and Caspian Terns. Along the Miami Canal, a great many Swallows were congregating. Mostly Barns Swallows with a few Cliff and Bank Swallows mixed in. 




Long-billed Dowitcher

Hopefully I can return in a couple of weeks, when the possibility of locating some of the most sought after migrants - Upland Sandpipers, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope should improve.