S I G H T I N G S
Below are survey reports from
the Grays Harbor NWR Wildlife Biologist and Refuge Volunteers.
Surveys are conducted every few days during shorebird migration.
All surveys are begun just before high tide.
Note: Non-shorebird species are listed
in italic font.
2009 Shorebird Sightings
| Date:
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 2,962 |
| Species |
Approx.
# seen |
Black-bellied
Plover |
10 |
Semi-palmated
Plover |
250 |
| Dunlin |
|
Western
Sandpiper |
0 |
Dowitcher
spp. |
0 |
Yellowlegs
spp. |
2 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
2000 |
Caspain Tern |
12 |
Bald
Eagle |
1 |
Peregrine Falcon |
1 |
Merlin |
1 |
| Comments:
This is the first count of the year. Semi-palmated plovers have started migrating into Grays Harbor. Other species most likely are birds that have wintered over on the Washington Coast. Mini-Moon Island birds were probably Dunlin. |
| Date: Friday, April 24, 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 10,077 |
Species |
Approx.
# seen |
Black-bellied
Plover |
40 |
Semipalmated
Plover |
253 |
| Dunlin |
875 |
Western
Sandpiper |
875 |
Least Sandpiper |
30 |
Red Knot |
2 |
Dowitcher
spp. |
2 |
Greater Yellowlegs |
0 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
8,000 |
Caspain Tern |
7 |
Peregrine Falcon |
3 |
Bald
Eagle |
2 |
| Comments: There were fabulous evasive flights by flocks of shorebirds to avoid peregrine falcon attacks. Ducks included 660 northern pintail and 540 waterfowl spp. (birds too far away to identify). |
| Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 38,030 |
Species |
Approx.
# seen |
Black-bellied
Plover |
22 |
Semipalmated
Plover |
497 |
Dunlin |
3,500 |
Western
Sandpiper |
4000 |
Least
Sandpiper |
8 |
Red
Knot |
0 |
Dowitcher
spp. |
2 |
Whimbrel |
0 |
Yellowlegs
spp. |
0 |
Black
Turnstone |
1 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
30,000 |
Caspain Tern |
10 |
Peregrine
Falcon |
1 |
Merlin |
1 |
Bald
Eagle |
1 |
| Comments: 1500 Cackling Geese and 925 Greater White-fronted Geese seen flying over. An additional 3800 unknown species of geese seen flying over. The geese came in waves all day long. 1200 pintail and 150 gadwall seen on the Refuge. |
| Date: Sunday, April 26, 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 43,649 |
Species |
Approx.
# seen |
Black-bellied
Plover |
41 |
Semipalmated
Plover |
600 |
Dunlin |
3,500 |
Western
Sandpiper |
4,500 |
Least
Sandpiper |
4 |
Dowitcher
spp. |
4 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
35,000 |
Caspain Tern |
5 |
Peregrine
Falcon |
4 |
Merlin |
1 |
Bald
Eagle |
2 |
| Comments: |
| Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 25,299 |
Species |
Approx.
# seen |
Black-bellied
Plover |
6 |
Semipalmated
Plover |
561 |
Dunlin |
16,250 |
Western
Sandpiper |
8,750 |
Least
Sandpiper |
23 |
Red
Knot |
0 |
Dowitcher
spp. |
4 |
Ruddy
Turnstone |
0 |
Yellowlegs
spp. |
5 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
10,000 |
Caspain Tern |
37 |
Peregrine
Falcon |
2 |
Merlin |
0 |
Bald
Eagle |
2 |
|
Comments:
|
| Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 23,730 |
Black-bellied
Plover |
0 |
Semipalmated
Plover |
721 |
Dunlin |
5,000 |
Western
Sandpiper |
3,000 |
Least
Sandpiper |
9 |
Red
Knot |
0 |
Dowitcher
spp. |
0 |
Greater
Yellowlegs |
0 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
15,000 |
Caspian
Tern |
2 |
Gadwall |
2 |
Mallard |
0 |
Northern
Pintail |
0 |
| Comments: |
| Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 24,197 |
Black-bellied
Plover |
27 |
Semipalmated
Plover |
96 |
Dunlin |
4,800 |
Western
Sandpiper |
19,200 |
Least
Sandpiper |
39 |
Red
Knot |
21 |
Dowitcher spp. |
9 |
Greater
Yellowlegs |
4 |
Whimbrel |
1 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
10,000 |
Caspian
Tern |
11 |
Merlin |
0 |
Bald Eagle |
1 |
Peregrine Falcon |
2 |
| Comments: |
| Date: Sunday, May 3, 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 45,205 |
Black-bellied
Plover |
5 |
Semipalmated
Plover |
175 |
Dunlin |
10,000 |
Western
Sandpiper |
15,000 |
Least
Sandpiper |
11 |
Red
Knot |
9 |
Dowitcher spp. |
1 |
Greater
Yellowlegs |
4 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
20,000 |
Caspian
Tern |
6 |
Peregrine Falcon |
1 |
Merlin |
0 |
Bald Eagle |
4 |
| Comments: |
| Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 8,211 |
Black-bellied
Plover |
11 |
Semipalmated
Plover |
112 |
Dunlin |
3,000 |
Western
Sandpiper |
5,000 |
Least
Sandpiper |
0 |
Red
Knot |
78 |
Dowitcher spp. |
3 |
Greater
Yellowlegs |
5 |
Pacific Golden Plover |
2 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
unknown |
Caspian
Tern |
2 |
Peregrine Falcon |
0 |
Merlin |
0 |
Bald Eagle |
5 |
| Comments: Very heavy rain and fog made viewing birds on the island impossible. |
| Date: Friday, May 8 2009 |
| Total
shorebirds observed: 7,664 |
Black-bellied
Plover |
0 |
Semipalmated
Plover |
160 |
Dunlin |
2,400 |
Western
Sandpiper |
4,600 |
Least
Sandpiper |
2 |
Red
Knot |
1 |
Dowitcher spp. |
0 |
Yellowlegs spp. |
1 |
Whimbrel |
1 |
Mini-Moon
Island Unidentified spp. |
500 |
Caspian
Tern |
3 |
Peregrine Falcon |
1 |
Merlin |
1 |
Bald Eagle |
2 |
| Comments: |
|