[Birdnet] Ruddy Turnstone and Other Shorebirds

[Kristin Purdy]

Thanks to Crystal Carpenter for reporting the RUDDY TURNSTONE at Antelope 
Island Causeway yesterday. Crystal's report crowbarred me out of the 
mountains today for the first time in about two months and it was good to 
visit the causeway again.

Jack Binch and I watched the turnstone for 20-30 minutes on the north side 
at the big bridge near the marina. The turnstone was easy to miss and easy 
to lose because of the rocky shoreline in that area. The bird was not 
flighty, but hopped among the rocks along the waterline and frequently 
dropped out of sight. Fortunately, he was also fond of playing king of the 
rock and often stood on high points at water's edge. Several times, he flew 
away from the shore in a wide loop, low to the water, and returned to the 
shoreline farther east or west. He's still in strong rust, black and white 
plumage. I couldn't see any sign of the post-nuptial molt yet and his median 
coverts are faded enough almost to call them blonde rather than ruddy.

The turnstone plus other species totaled 15 shorebirds; that's a pretty good 
afternoon:

Black-bellied Plover: five on the north side between mm 5 and 6; all adults 
in breeding plumage
Snowy Plover: one on the south side in the rocky area a couple tenths west 
of the No Swimming bridge; he or she flushed to the north side and landed at 
an unreasonable distance. However, I followed the bird and saw nine more 
with the scope in a whitish playa area. Binocs alone probably wouldn't have 
picked up the north birds.
Semi-palmated Plover: one on the south side where the causeway meets the 
island and five on the north side between mm 5 and 6.
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Long-billed Curlew
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope

Kris