Global Shorebird Count - Day 2

Semipalmated Plover showed up on day 2

On the second day of the Global Bird Count, I visited three sites on the island’s south coast: Inch Marlow, Long Beach, and Chancery Lane,  Christ Church. The most common bird was the Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), with a total of 116 individuals. Two other species had more than 50 individuals: the Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) with 74 and the Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) with 85. I also recorded four new species for our list: the Ruddy Turnstone, the Sanderling (Calidris alba), the Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), and the Willet (Tringa semipalmata).

American Golden-Plovers on the Polo Field at Lion Castle

In the afternoon, I went to Lion Castle Polo Field in St. Thomas and spotted some American Golden-Plovers (Pluvialis dominica), which have been migrating in large numbers recently.

Here are the stats at the end of day 2:

Total Shorebird Species seen today - 15
Total Individual birds I saw today - 349
Total shorebird species for the count - 17
Total Individual birds for the count - 583

List of Shorebirds seen:

1. Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
2. American Golden-Plover - Pluvialis dominica
3. Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus
4. Stilt Sandpiper - Calidris himantopus
5. Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla
6. White-rumped Sandpiper - Calidris fuscicollis
7. Pectoral Sandpiper - Calidris melanotos
8. Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla
9. Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus
10. Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius
11. Solitary Sandpiper - Tringa solitaria
12. Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca
13. Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes
14. Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
15. Sanderling - Calidris alba
16. Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
17. Willet - Tringa semipalmata