Banded Bird Discomfort

I know oh too well, that bird ringing/banding plays an important part in ornithology but I do look forward to a time when it is replaced by a much less intrusive technique. This Semipalmated Sandpiper I saw during the Global Shorebirds Count was clearly show signs of discomfort and sadly it was not the first banded bird I have seen showing behavior like this.  I do hope it quickly becoming a thing of the pass.

Evening Birding

I had a good birding afternoon yesterday in the parishes of St. Andrew and St. Lucy. I saw over 20 species of birds, which included two rare birds. A Black-necked Stilt and a beautiful Purple Gallinule.

Black-neck Stilt

Purple Gallanule

World Shorebird Day (Day 7 -Final Day)

The final day of the Global Shorebirds Count could be considered Ruddy Turnstone Day.  The two locations I visited tallied ninety Turnstones including a banded bird, tagged “AUM”. One more shorebird species, a Western Sandpiper, was added to the list. See the final count below.

Shorebird Tally
Species - 18
Number of Birds - 552

Shorebird Species

1. American Golden-Plover (12)
2. Semipalmated Plover (96)
3. White-rumped Sandpiper (9)
4. Semipalmated Sandpiper (132)
5. Short-billed Dowitcher (25)
6. Spotted Sandpiper (36)
7. Least Sandpiper (59)
8. Black-bellied Plover (14)
9. Ruddy Turnstone (108)
10. Stilt Sandpiper (7)
11. Solitary Sandpiper (2)
12. Greater Yellowleg (3)
13. Whimbrel (9)
14. Red Knot (1)
15. Sanderling (31)
16. Pectoral Sandpiper (6)
17. Willet (1)
18. Western Sandpiper (1)

World Shorebird Day (Weekend Days 5&6)

Semipalmated Sandpiper

I visited a few locations over the weekend and added two more shorebird species to the tally. There were Sanderlings, a Willet and Pectoral Sandpipers. See the update checklist below.

Shorebird Tally
Species - 17
Number of Birds - 362 

Shorebird Species

1. American Golden-Plover (12)
2. Semipalmated Plover (81)
3. White-rumped Sandpiper (9)
4. Semipalmated Sandpiper (92)
5. Short-billed Dowitcher (25)
6. Spotted Sandpiper (25)
7. Least Sandpiper (54)
8. Black-bellied Plover (13)
9. Ruddy Turnstone (9)
10. Stilt Sandpiper (7)
11. Solitary Sandpiper (2)
12. Greater Yellowleg (3)
13. Whimbrel (3)
14. Red Knot (1)
15. Sanderling (11)
16. Pectoral Sandpiper (5)
17. Willet (1)
18. 
    

World Shorebird day (Day 3 & 4)

Whimbrel

The 3rd and 4th days of the Global Shorebirds Count/World Shorebirds Day were slow birding days for me.  I was still able to add two more shorebird species, Red knot, and Whimbrel, to the list. Here is how my checklist look at the end of day 4.

1. American Golden-Plover (12)
2. Semipalmated Plover (40)
3. White-rumped Sandpiper (9)
4. Semipalmated Sandpiper (77)
5. Short-billed Dowitcher (25)
6. Spotted Sandpiper (9)
7. Least Sandpiper (21)
8. Black-bellied Plover (13)
9. Ruddy Turnstone (9)
10. Stilt Sandpiper (7)
11. Solitary Sandpiper (1)
12. Greater Yellowleg (3)
13. Whimbrel (3)
14. Red Knot (1)

World Shorebird day (Day 2)

Day 2 was a bit better. I got to two locations in the east of the island adding six species totaling 141 birds. See the final tally below.

Shorebird Tally
Species - 12
Number of Birds - 180 

Shorebird Species

1. American Golden-Plover (2)
2. Semipalmated Plover (37)
3. White-rumped Sandpiper (9)
4. Semipalmated Sandpiper (47)
5. Short-billed Dowitcher (25)
6. Spotted Sandpiper (7)
7. Least Sandpiper (21)
8. Black-bellied Plover (12)
9. Ruddy Turnstone (9)
10. Stilt Sandpiper (7)
11. Solitary Sandpiper (1)
12. Greater Yellowleg (3)

World Shorebird day (Day 1)

I had a slow start to the Global Shorebird Counts. I saw six shorebird species at two locations.  

Shorebird Tally
Species - 6
Number of Birds - 39 

Short-billed Dowitcher

Short-billed Dowitcher

A banded Semipalmated Sandpiper