Subject: [Tweeters] whimbrels at Woodland bottoms
Date: May 26 14:38:40 2012
From: Randy Hill - re_hill at q.com


Ron Friesz and I headed up to Woodland this morning to follow up on Tom
Mansfield's Whimbrel sighting yesterday at Caples and Dike Road. Ken
Knittle was there already standing guard, returning after he had seen at
least one yesterday, but no luck today. Last night's thunderstorm may have
changed the distribution or abundance of flooded areas near the river. Five
Bonaparte's Gulls and a Bank Swallow were of interest. After a 20 minute
watch Ken said he needed to leave to let them fly in so we could see them.
Within 5 minutes of his departure they did, from the south. My count as
they were flying in was 33. Five counts on the ground were 28, 23, 26, 27
and 31, so there were at least 31 present at noon today. We looped around
the dike and returned toward town with a quick stop east of the RR tracks.
Ron and I both thought we saw a Lesser Goldfinch, and based on different
distinguishing markings, among a large flock of American Goldfinches.



Randy Hill

Ridgefield