The link below includes images of the three Pectoral Sandpipers seen April 6
at Swan Harbor Farm Park. Plus some images from a fun 5pm bird walk well
lead by Matt Hafner.
I spent about 6 uninterrupted hours attempting to get reasonably close
images of the Pectorals. The first time I got close I barely escaped,
within inches of my life (*), from a huge farm tractor that decided to plow
the field between the entrance road and the north impound just as the
Sandpipers appeared, just as I had worked my way up. Ten more seconds and I
would have got the shots I was after. So I had to start all over again.
Interestingly, all the shorebirds, including the Pectorals, flushed from
the pond returned within minutes of the tractor leaving the immediate area.
They really seem to like that mud flat visible from the entrance road.
The bird walk saw a couple of migrating Great Blue Herons, an Eagle high
overhead (photo), many Song Sparrows in the impounds (most stayed well
hidden when perched), at least one Swamp Sparrow, and numerous Blue-winged
and Green-winged Teal were flushed. Nice views of a Red-Winged Blackbird
displaying (photo). Also 4 Meadowlarks in the field between the new
impoundments and the entrance road (tiny photo :-)). The Pectoral
Sandpipers came back for the walk, after being flushed out just a few
minutes before the walk started, as well as lots of Wilson's Snipe. Not
sure if anyone saw the Killdeer that were there in the morning but possibly
not easily seen later in the day. A Savannah Sparrow was seen in very dim
light on the way back to the parking lot. Also some Ring-necked ducks and
Pied-billed Grebes in the north impound (and a Grebe in the new impounds
too).
The last hour of the walk had some wonderful light on the north impound.
Especially on the flushed Teal.
Thanks again to Matt for leading a great walk!
* - some literary license may have been applied there
http://www.pbase.com/nrothschild/swan_harbor_farm
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