[Birdnet] Stilt Sandpiper at BRMBR

[Kristin Purdy]

A STILT SANDPIPER was consorting with a group of 8-9 Lesser Yellowlegs 
inside the auto tour loop at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Box Elder 
County this morning. This bird was a juvenile by the uniform scaly look to 
the back feathers and wing coverts.

The flock was a mile and a half north of the observation tower. I was 
birding along the west side of the loop and looking east into the loop next 
to a bridge where two pre-flood interpretive signs labeled "The American 
White Pelican" and "Sago Pondweed" are located. The birds flushed twice 
while I watched; the first flight was a short one and I located them again; 
the second one took them far to the south and I lost them along the edge of 
the water when they mixed with other flushing flocks. Unit 3, east of the 
tour loop, still has good water and perhaps this flock continued south.

The incredible shrinking water supply has severely restricted the water 
inside the tour loop and there's barely any left. A narrow 15-20 yard wide 
strip of water is snugged against the west side of the loop. That's where 
all the birds are, and few are shorebirds. Along the several mile strip, I 
only saw stilts, avocets, five godwits, one dowitcher and the small flock 
mentioned above. No peeps or plovers whatsoever.

I busted my Short-eared Owl streak this morning and didn't see one on the 
road to the refuge. Maybe I should have quit while I was ahead.

I also may a run, or more properly, made a bounce, west of Willard Bay. By 
the time I reached the spot along the dike where the dike curves northeast 
and the beacon is located, the water line appeared to be several miles 
further northeast. I quit while I was behind and turned around. The water is 
probably accessible from the north end of Willard Bay.

Bear River MBR is located west of I-15 at exit 363.

Kris