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Posted by Alex Harper on 19:24:38 09/04/08
Here is another report from the western-most county in the Panhandle. I went down to Ft. Pickens this afternoon on a whim, so I didn't bring my binoculars. It isn't open to vehicles yet, as far as I know anyone can make the five or six mile treck if they wish to. I will make that hike once winter arrives.
I visited Ft. Pickens last week and was amazed by the numbers of Black Terns. There were even more this time, and the area was full of other birds! My girlfriend and I only spent maybe an hour there, but most of the time we were watching the birds (and she is actually interested in birds and the idea of birding!). Bob Duncan, one of the areas most experienced birders, alerted me of a really good bird in a puddle (brackish?) just past the parkinglot, and I found that bird with ease.
Here is what the beach had to offer:
Black-bellied Plover- 1
Snowy Plover- 2
Semipalmated Plover- 15
Willet- 5
Sanderling- 20
Dunlin- 1
Ruddy Turnstone- 15
Least Sandpiper- 10
Semipalmated Sandpiper- 5
Western Sandpiper- 3
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER- 1
Least Tern- 4
Common Tern- 10
Sandwich Tern- 100
Royal Tern- 10
Caspian Tern- 2
Black Tern- 1,500
Black Skimmer- 4
This was along about 2/5 mile of beach in an hour. Without binoculars. On a date. Wish I could have covered it a bit more.
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