Field notes from Jamaica Bay 7-31-10

 My wing span is bigger than yours said the Pelican to the Cormorant.

Summer is in full swing and with it the arrival of shorebirds. Numbers continue to swell and the diversity of birds increasing. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, has seen some good birds arriving early, as we already had American Avocets, American White Pelican (2), Hudsonian Godiwt and Wilson Phalaropes.

 Hudsonian Godwit on the East Pond at JBWR.

The following is a list of all the shorebirds being seen at Jamaica Bay as of 7-31-10: Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola, Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus, Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus, American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus, Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius, Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca, Willet - Tringa semipalmata, Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes, Hudsonian Godwit - Limosa haemastica, Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla, Western Sandpiper - Calidris mauri, Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla, White-rumped Sandpiper - Calidris fuscicollis, Pectoral Sandpiper - Calidris melanotos, Stilt Sandpiper - Calidris himantopus, Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus, Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus, and Wilson's Phalarope - Phalaropus tricolor.

Hopefully we continue to see more birds arriving and maybe we will be lucky enough to get one of those really good gems like a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Stint or Broad-billed Sandpiper, all rarities that have been seen at Jamaica Bay. Unfortunately, for me I was not birding then, so I need them all.

Here is a video of Wilson's Phalarope on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay

Tags: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Hudsonian Godwit, American-white Pelican