Posted by Rafael Alison Michelle David on July 26, 2001 at 06:50:38:
Rafael Galvez, Alison Brovold, Michelle Davis and I headed to the (now famous) flooded fields at the Homestead raceway. Shorebirds seen were as follows:
Least, Semipalmated (several), and Western (at least 2) Sandpipers
Pectoral Sandpiper (3)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (2)
STILT SANDPIPER (over 30!!!!!!! several still in pretty nice breeding plumage; see Barn Owl below for location)
Short-billed Dowitcher (>20)
Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Black-necked Stilt
Other noteworthy birds:
Barn Owl: beautiful bird flew right past us and hunted over the field near the farming machine (the big thing that moves across the field and presumably waters the crops. where the machine meets the road (don't know the name but it's the first left you can take when you're approaching the raceway on Speedway Blvd.) is also the "secret spot" with all 30 Stilt Sandpipers)
::small black colored rail-like bird scurrying through the short grass at ~8:00pm...didn't flush when followed...looked to be less that 1/2 the size of a Black-necked stilt...head down and booking!...I hesitate to guess, but does anyone wanna play the tape?::
It rained pretty good last night and this morning, I'll bet the fields will be good today!
good birding,
HBA
Holistic Birders Association