This morning I joined Ian Gardner and Ramsay Koury to check out the Conejohela Flats for some shorebirds. The flats are a popular location with birders in this area, but a kayak is needed to get better looks at the two main mudflat areas, where the shorebirds tend to be. There weren’t a ton of shorebirds present, but a lone Black-bellied Plover and 27 Semipalmated Plover made up for it in quality. We saw six shorebird species in total. The highlight, for me, was that one of the Semipalmated Plovers was banded with 4 different color bands (photos below). If I can figure out where this bird was banded, I will let you know! Below are photos from today and here is a link to the complete checklist.
Black-bellied Plover - nonbreeding adult
Semipalmated Plover - adult with a white alpha-numeric band (missing code due to age/wear), a blue band directly below that, and a yellowish metal band all on it's left leg and then a long green band on it's right leg.
Semipalmated Plover - adult with a white alpha-numeric band (missing code due to age/wear), a blue band directly below that, and a yellowish metal band all on it's left leg (metal band out of view in this shot) and then a long green band on it's right leg.
Lesser Yellowlegs