Mobirders:
Re:OtterSlough 11-4-02
Just some thoughts on shorebirds...delete at
will.
After consulting Robbins & Easterla's "Birds of
Missouri",
I am having doubts regarding the accuracy of my
numbers
of species observed at Otter Slough this morning. I
sure
wish I would have slowed down and picked through
the
birds more carefully.
I was looking for Dunlin, because I have seen them
posted
in other areas of the state. OK, I was able to
pick one out
(looking for the short, stocky one with a long,
droopy bill...
dark legs, etc.). I started counting them next.
After a while,
I realized that some of the droopy-billed ones were
taller,
feeding in deeper water and had faint streaking
down the sides.
These were Stilt Sandpipers, I believe. Dowitchers
were next...
longer bill, light barring on the sides and flanks,
sewing-machine
feeding. Silent.
All these birds were in nonbreeding
plumage.
Probably Least Sandpipers, but in this drab plumage
and they
were moving around so fast...And I'm in a hurry to
see if the alleged
Western Grebe is still at Lake
Wapappello...
Anyhow, I am confident that the species I posted
were accurate,
but I'm not sure of the numbers. I think I started
counting and forgot
to take careful note of all those subtle
differences that make shore-
birds so challenging...overcounting some and
undercounting others.
I will endeavor to correct this bad habit in order
to give a more
accurate picture of birds observed in the
future.
Met the guy who owns the habitat on the west side
of Otter Slough
CA (west of CR 670). He manages the habitat and
rents blinds to
duck hunters. Real nice guy...seemed to be
fascinated that there
were shorebirds out there. Probably had 7 different
encounters with
duck hunters...all positive.
Good Birding!
Doug Willis
Farmington, MO
St.Francois County