I made a second attempt to find the barnacle geese today between 11.30am
and 3pm, and failed again. I found a grand total of eight geese along
the Wenzel Slough Road (though there were more just off the main highway
where they couldn't be scoped), and a large flock to the east of Foster
Rd contained three greater white-fronted geese, but no barnacles.

No whimbrels or curlews on show for me either, but I did find a single
basic plumage golden-plover mingling with a group of 15 or so
black-bellieds in a field on the eastern half of the loop opposite
Willis Rd. It stood right next to a basic plumage black-bellied, a
smaller bird with distinctively different colouring and a broad pale
golden washed superciliary and cheeks, but it would take more knowledge
than mine to call it as Pacific or American. From my field guide, I'd
lean towards Pacific, but I believe they're more unusual away from the
coast?

The greater yellowlegs were numerous, particularly in the same field as
the goose flock - I counted at least thirty at that location when they
took flight.

There was an osprey at the pole nest site on the south-eastern part of
the loop, and I also came across a merlin, three northern harriers
(including one male), red-tailed hawks and a single turkey vulture. The
ducks and passerines I saw were the ubiquitous bunch, though I only
found a single wigeon instead of the normal flocks.

If anyone else has seen the golden-plover and can give me a species, I'd
be deeply grateful!

Louise Rutter
Kirkland

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.3.0/758 - Release Date:
12/04/2007 11:52