Post by kestrel on Aug 25, 2019 18:23:32 GMT -8
John, Ed, and I had a great morning at a couple of places.
At Blackie Spit we crossed paths with a small mixed flock, which consisted of Wilson's warblers, Warbling vireos, an Orange-crowned warbler, and a Black-throated gray warbler. There was also a Caspian tern and the resident Long-billed curlew.
Purple martins were quite plentiful:
Purple martins by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Reifel was very active, and has also been playing host to a handful of rarities lately. On our way in, we saw the Great egret that has been hunting in the slough near the main entrance.
We also spotted a Virginia rail poking around among cattails, right near a trail sign that says you might see one of these birds there if you're quiet.
One of two Solitary sandpipers that were present:
Solitary sandpiper by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Both birds with some Greater or Lesser yellowlegs:
Solitary sandpipers with other shorebirds by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Probably the biggest highlight of the day however, was this Black phoebe:
Black phoebe by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
It was a very successful outing. Both the phoebe and the sandpipers were lifers for me.
At Blackie Spit we crossed paths with a small mixed flock, which consisted of Wilson's warblers, Warbling vireos, an Orange-crowned warbler, and a Black-throated gray warbler. There was also a Caspian tern and the resident Long-billed curlew.
Purple martins were quite plentiful:
Purple martins by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrReifel was very active, and has also been playing host to a handful of rarities lately. On our way in, we saw the Great egret that has been hunting in the slough near the main entrance.
We also spotted a Virginia rail poking around among cattails, right near a trail sign that says you might see one of these birds there if you're quiet.
One of two Solitary sandpipers that were present:
Solitary sandpiper by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrBoth birds with some Greater or Lesser yellowlegs:
Solitary sandpipers with other shorebirds by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrProbably the biggest highlight of the day however, was this Black phoebe:
Black phoebe by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrIt was a very successful outing. Both the phoebe and the sandpipers were lifers for me.