There were two Stilt Sandpipers in the Heislerville impoundments this afternoon, along with lots and lots of Greater Yellowlegs, among others. The Stilts were far from in breeding plumage, but some years, I’ve seen the first in the end of March, and others, not til the middle of May, so a third/ fourth week in April arrival is not to go without mentioning.

Another noteworthy April migrant was a Vesper Sparrow just before the bridge, feeding in the “sharp rubble” & sand right along the beach, at Fortescue Beach. The damned thing was most cooperative, and remained in same spot for well over an hout, allowing itself to be photographed quite well, and unlike with the Stilt Sands at Heislerville, the camera remained dry!

Shorebird and Gull numbers seemed a bit unevenly distributed: In addition to the Stilt Sands, Heislerville had far and away the most Greaterlegs, and Semipalmated Plovers; Turkey Point at low tide had incredible numbers of Dunlin, excellent numbers of Lesserlegs, and more Dowitchers than anywhere else I stopped (500 or so). East Point had the most Gulls (including about 2 dozen lingering Bonapartes), after the excellent numbers of Gulls at East Point & Heislerville, I was a bit surprised that Fortescue was comparatively devoid of even Laughers. Though Fortescue is usually more of a late-season Spring Hotspot. Unfortunately I skipped Bivalve etc. Even I am subject to physical laws, and I had other errands to run…

Displaying Turkeys were on just about every patch of green lawn between Mauricetown and Fortescue, over 50 or so all told-which was just about as impressive as the number of Shorebirds, which numbered in the thousands.

A Tricolored Heron was at Heislerville, as well as a good flock of Red-breasted Megs, and 5 Hooded Mergs, which were also worth mentioning. A lone Snow Goose was at East Point. A second-year Yellow-crowned Night-heron was at, what I always think of as “The Yellow-crowned Night Heron Pond” at Turkey Point, where a ridiculously confiding, and apparently healthy, Red Fox came trotting out of the marsh, and continued, straight down the road ahead of me, for about a mile and a half.

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Recently Written

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