[Birdtalk] No Sandpiper Today

[Kristin Purdy]

A group of birders gave Antelope Island's causeway a thorough search today 
from about mm 3-6 without turning up the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. We 
"covered" the causeway from 8 am to 2 pm. We did, however, see a flock of 19 
Pectoral Sandpipers on the mudflats north of the 'No Swimming' bridge at 
mile 4.8; later we saw four additional Pectorals on flats at the end of the 
channel.

The Pluvialis plovers continue, although in greatly reduced numbers since 
Saturday. We saw both Black-bellied (20-30) and American Golden-plovers (6). 
Many dowitchers are still present; other shorebird sightings today include a 
Marbled Godwit and a Sanderling, and a smattering of Least and Western 
Sandpipers, Willets and Black-necked Stilts. The Killdeer are present in 
good numbers south of the bridge and American Avocets continue as far as the 
eye can see.

The oddball sight of the morning was a Mountain Chickadee that Pomera 
spotted in a big clump of rabbitbrush at the bridge. Funny.

Kris