lulubelle
07-19-2009, 08:13 PM
Went out today, hoping to spot something good - like the Orchard Oriole Greg found yesterday! Didn't, but got 37 species and really enjoyed trying to figure out the shorebirds! Beds 7 & 8 seem to be shorebird hotspots right now and there are some gorgeous Stilt Sandpipers out there now. We saw a Short-billed Dowitcher yesterday in bed 27 & it was in bed 7 (with a W. Phalarope spinning literally right in front of it as it did it's "sewing machine" method of probing the mud for food) when I went back yesterday afternoon - wasn't around today. Saw more Solitary Sandpipers yesterday & today than I have ever. Did see a Robin at the beds for the first time - a young rather scraggly looking juvie! Juvie Red-wings everywhere! Found a House Finch - a day too late! Spotted a lone Scissor-tail being harrassed by 2 W. Kingbirds - they are rather chatty & bossy birds! Birded the Trammell-Davis Rd that runs behind the west berm of the beds and saw what I believe was a juvie Great -crested Flycatcher - however, it didn't have a yellow belly. Would a juvie have the yellow belly or could this have been something else? (I would like it to be something else!!!) It was bigger than a Phoebe and wrong coloring for a Phoebe. It flew as I snapped the shutter on my camera - so unfair! Also heard ,then spotted, a beautiful male Indigo, but couldn't find a Painted anywhere. Turned out to be a good visit!