Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla today in Fife.
I live in Pierce County, WA, USA and finding shorebirds in the spring is not easy here. In the fall many of our small ponds start to dry up, leaving muddy areas that attract the southbound migrant shorebirds. In spring we rely on the few agricultural fields that are low-lying and still muddy, a few areas of tidal mud, and generally struggle to find relatively common species. Today Will Brooks, one of our top local birders, found a corner of a fallow field in Fife with mud and water and found Least Sandpiper, two uncommon Solitary Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer and Western Sandpipers.
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria today.
Several of us were able to find the Solitary Sandpipers, and were happy to know of a new shorebird spot for this spring.
We will have bigger numbers of the common shorebirds moving through our coastal areas in the next 3 weeks, but with the Covid-19 related travel limitations, getting to the coast may be problematic.
Hopefully we can find some of them closer to home.
I'll try to include an update to our shorebird status on the next episode of The Bird Banter Podcast. Be sure to listen and subscribe.
Good birding. Good Day.
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Killdeer Charadrius vociferus from last summer. Their scientific name is perfect, as they are truly vociferous.
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Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca (one of my older photos, not the ones seen today)
