Jamaica Bay Annual Shorebird Festival...

Birders on the North End of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

We had excellent weather for today's annual Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival, which took place at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens NY.  After having free donuts and coffee, participants attended a brief presentation by Don Riepe of the American Littoral Society and then the first shorebird walk took place on the East Pond. I had scouted the pond earlier and my highlights were WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER(6), and a SOLITARY SANDPIPER among all the other usual shorebirds for this time of the year. Unfortunately, the AMERICAN AVOCET was not seen today.

Juvenile Red Knot

I helped to lead on one of the walks on the North End of the East Pond, which included the following leaders: Kevin Karlson (co author of the Shorebird Guide and renowned photographer ), Lloyd Spitalnik ( author and renowned photographer), Tom Burke (aka Mr. Tireless and one of the sharpest birders I know) and Peter Post (my apologies, if I missed anyone).  While there were not a lot of birds to look at, we added juvenile STILT SANDPIPERS and RED KNOTS (2 of them juveniles) as part of our overall highlights.  Lloyd Spitalnik's photography presentation and Kevin's talk on shorebird ID takes place later this afternoon, so head on over if you can, it is sure to be good!

Kevin Karlson (3rd from right) discusses some of the finer point on shorebirding.

Tom Burke (left) one of the Shorebird Festival leaders with the talented and affable Guy Tudor.

Tags: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Jamaica Bay Shorebird FestivalQueens, Shorebird, Jamaica Bay, Red Knot