Posted by Brian Rapoza on July 30, 2001 at 15:09:54:
What with all the good shorebirds being seen in
Homestead, and with all the shorebirds that could
be seen on the Gulf Coast, it occured to me yesterday:
just how many different shorebirds could one see in
Florida in one day. Inspired by that thought after
checking out the fields in Homestead yesterday morning,
I headed for Tigertail Beach on Marco Island.
Following is my tally for the day:
In Homestead:
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
At Tigertail:
Black-bellied Plover
Wilson's Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Willet
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin (in breeding plumage)
Short-billed Dowitcher
A total of 21 species, which I believe is the most
shorebirds I've seen in Florida in one day. But I
should have(or could have)done better.
In Homestead, I missed the American Golden Plover,
the (probably long gone, but who knows)Reeve, and
Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers reported earlier.
At Tigertail, I missed Snowy Plover and American
Oystercatcher. Other possibilities in South Florida at
this time of year are American Avocet, Upland
Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Long-billed
Dowitcher(maybe) and Wilson's Phalarope.
That would bring a shorebird day list to over 30.
Wishful thinking, or is there an itinerary that could
make it happen?