Lightning struck a second time today at Somerset Lake IBA. After work, Mike Lanzone and Jeff Payne stopped by the lake, hoping for a White-rumped Sandpiper or maybe even a Red Knot. They were both shocked to find a WHIMBREL instead. This Arctic-to-Caribbean-and-back migrant is a powerful flier, and research by the Center for Conservation Biology has tracked Whimbrels regularly … Read More
Dilute plumaged Whimbrel – Eastern Shore of Virginia
Earlier today while out birding at the Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve (eBird checklist) on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, I spotted a very pale blonde Whimbrel mixed with about 60 typical Whimbrel. The birds were distant but would occasionally fly between foraging locations which allowed me to get a few poor-quality flight shots showing the pale bird. I have never heard … Read More
First Day of Work on the Eastern Shore!
Yesterday afternoon I drove down to Kiptopeke, Virginia from State College to start my summer job with the Center for Conservation Biology. I have previously worked for the CCB capturing and tagging Whimbrel during the spring migration of 2010, and now this year I am back to work with the Whimbrels again! I will also be working with a wide … Read More
Whimbrel and 3 Avocets– Sept ’12, Somerset County, PA
On September 4th after returning from out of town, my wife, Trish Miller, and I were birding our Somerset Lake route. One of our first stops is on the south side of the lake. As we scanned the south side I notice a large shorebird bathing on the far shore. I couldn’t make out much from that side, so we … Read More
Whimbrel and Long-billed Curlew Comparison – Cibola NWR, AZ
Today, after Anna and I Â finished tracking some cuckoos at Cibola NWR, we swung past a flooded field bordering the Cornfield Nature Trail area, and there was a large mixed group of White-faced Ibis, Cattle Egrets, Greater Yellowlegs, Great Egrets and Long-billed Curlew foraging there. Upon closer inspection, we also picked out a nice ‘Western’ Willet and, even better, a … Read More
2010 – My Biggest Year!
I started off 2010 terribly sick and I didn’t leave the house for a few days. Once I got better, Anna Fasoli and I drove down to Blackwater NWR in Maryland to officially start off our 2010 birding year. We picked up 60 species in one day. On Febuary 24th, I drove down to Herndon, Virginia to see the Varied … Read More