Shorebirding at the Mou - 15 Aug 2021

Tom Mulcrone and I met at the Mouillee Creek parking lot at 7 am to check on shorebirds at Pt. Mouillee. Tom's been a friend to the Jourdan Family since we were kids so it was a pleasure to catch up and chase some birds together. As we chatted in the parking lot Black-capped Chickadees, Eastern Kingbirds, and Red-winged Blackbirds all made their presence known.

A pair of Osprey on Mouillee Creek was a nice start to the bike ride. 

Song Sparrows flitted in an out of the phragmites as we rode toward the pump house. There we found 40 - 50 Great Egrets amassing for their eventual departure to the south. Several Great Blue Herons were among them. No Snowy Egrets or other waders were to be found.

Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Ducks and Mallard were the only other notables as we headed east toward the Banana Unit. Things got more interesing when we found a Pectoral Sandpiper foraging in the Humphries Unit about 50 yds from the Banana. I suspect that it might be a juvenile based on the freshness of the scaly feathers on its back, and a hint of buffiness to its prominent bib.

Nearby the first peeps of the morning were spotted. Heavily backlit against the rising Sun this pair of juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers were identified by their black legs, stubby bills, and hint of buff on the barely-visible chest band. 

They didn't stay long enough for more than a few digiscoped photos, so our attention was directed toward incoming Lesser Yellowlegs and Stilt Sandpipers that passed over a roosting flock of two-dozen Caspian Terns and Ring-billed Gulls. One only needs to hear the prehistoric "RHRAP" call of the Caspian to know its presence. 

Despite also being backlit it was possible to differentiate the Lesser Yellowlegs from the Stilt Sandpiper (below). The adult lesser, with its straight bill length matching the width of its head, and bright yellow legs, was taller than the Stilt Sandpiper (right) with its longer, slightly drooping bill with the tear-drop at the tip. Both birds are undergoing pre-basic molt with large patches of gray feathers appearing on their backs and the overall blotchiness of their plumage. The Stilt Sandpiper was showing remnants of its bold, zebra striping on the chest and underside. 

We slowly walked our bikes past them with the hopes of getting some properly illuminated views (and photos). They flushed and flew a short distance to the west where they joined up with a juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs, a Killdeer, and two more Stilt Sandpipers; one still retaining its breeding plumage! Note the fresh "spotted" look of the juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs with the white-tipped primaries and smudgy-gray chest feathers.

This image of a pair of Stilt Sandpipers shows a heavily-molting adult bird next to an adult that is retaining its breeding plumage. Worn secondaries are expected this time of year, but the red cheek patch and cap are still visible aside from the bold chest streaking. Juveniles will be plain-chested with buffy chests and clean wing feathers.

We continued on to the Banana where we found Cell 4 void of any bird life. Riding around to the north end of Cell 3 we ran into the great Jan Palland and chatted for a few minutes before riding the east side of Cell 3. An Eastern Pondhawk was a nice find, as well as glancing views of Yellow Warbler and Gray Catbird (the latter cooperative enough for scope views). 

Reaching the south end of Cell 3 we began to see the evidence of the dredging pumping being conducted by the Army Corp. Another juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs was foraging in a temporary pond while a small flock of juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers ducked in and out of the now-flooded vegetation. Again, lighting was not great, and the birds were distant, but small flocks would swirl close enough for a few flight pics. Most were Semi's with a couple Leasts scattered among them.

Up ahead a pair of Osprey were tussling in the air.

A Least Sandpiper and a couple Semipalmated Sandpipers landed nearby, but were obscured by vegetation. Still, they could be identified as juveniles based on their fresh, scalloped feathering. The Least (below left) was more red-brown than the brown-black Semipalms (below right) and the distinctive "racing stripe" is visible on its back. The short wing projection and stubby bills of the Semipalms are evident, as well. Note the difference in size between the two Semipalms; there is great variability is size and bill length so they sometimes get confused for Baird's Sandpipers.

Despite being silhouetted can you guess this peep? Hint: note the slight droop to the bill.

If you guessed Least Sandpiper you are correct! Once we got around to correct lighting the identification was simple: yellow legs, fresh red-brown feathering, racing stripe, droop to bill.

Heading back to the Middle Causeway we paused long enough for a juvenile Forster's Tern to pass overhead. I'd been telling Tom to look for the silvery wing flashes of the paler-looking Forster's (compared to Common Tern) and this one flew by with its dark juvenile wings. Go figure...

We ran into the Irwins and Mr. Palland then continued back down the Middle Causeway. A pair of Short-billed Dowitchers were now showing nicely in the morning sun. One was a fresh juvenile while the other was a worn adult. 

The Stilt Sandpipers were still hanging around, so I stopped to get a few more digiscoped images and a few with the Sony a1 and 200-600mm lens. It was nice to get some flight shots, as well!

We greeted the oncoming Audubon (Oakland?) tour and chatted a few moments before continuing back to the car. Another juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs deserved a quick look.

An Eastern Kingbird caught Tom's eye and he commented how it didn't appear to have the distinctive white-tipped tail. Sure enough, when it took off only a photo would be able to show how worn the tail was.

We'd make a quick loop of the Antennae Farm where we hoped to see Savannah Sparrows, Horned Larks, Bobolink, Dickcissels and possible a Blue Grosbeak, but it was late enough in the season to be a pipe dream. They will have to wait until next year.

A most productive morning. And it was great to see Tom again!