Subject: Poplar Island Sightings from June 7, 2012
This report is submitted on behalf of Jan Reese of Talbot County, who
continues to periodically survey the flora and fauna of the Paul Sarbanes
Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island.
The summary of bird observations that follows was taken by permission
from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and MD Port Administration, June
2012, Fauna Monitoring Report for the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration
Project at Poplar Island.
The few June shorebirds are perplexing since one cannot
always be sure if they are earlier migrating species (dunlin, sanderling)
returning south or late transients going north. Breeding plumaged and
long-distance migrants, phalaropes and White-rumped Sandpiper suggest they
are late transients going north. Semipalmated Plover and Willet are among
the early north and south transients, thus it is unclear which way they are
going in June. Non-breeding plumaged Semipalmated Sandpiper, Lesser
Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher and some Sanderling and Dunlin indicate
token transients testing their skill with partial migration.
Highlights for this survey were Laughing Gulls and
Phalaropes.
Weather: Some clouds but mostly sunny am & pm Temp: 70-78 degrees F
SPECIES Number of birds
Double-crested Cormorant (3430)
Great Blue Heron (36)
Great Egret (3)
Snowy Egret (41)
Cattle Egret (22)
Canada Goose (16)
Tundra Swan (1)
American Black Duck (42)
Mallard (1256)
Lesser Scaup (1)
Ruddy Duck (6)
Osprey (44)
Bald Eagle (1)
Black-bellied Plover (14)
Semipalmated Plover (36)
Killdeer (41)
Black-necked Stilt (12)
American Avocet (16)
Greater Yellowlegs (3)
Lesser Yellowlegs (4)
Willet (52)
Sanderling (9)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (222)
White-rumped Sandpiper (37)
Dunlin (21)
Short-billed Dowitcher (2)
Wilson's Phalarope (5)
Laughing Gull (66)
Herring Gull (668)
Great Black-backed Gull (165)
Common Tern (317)
Least Tern (184)
Black Tern (2)
Fish Crow (2)
Horned Lark (4)
Purple Martin (14)
Tree Swallow (34)
Bank Swallow (46)
Barn Swallow (11)
European Starling (3)
Seaside Sparrow (3)
Red-winged Blackbird (340)
Common Grackle (5)
Les Roslund
Talbot County
Easton MD 21601
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