Global Shorebird Count 2022
Greater Yellowlegs
After 3 weeks of enjoying birdlife in Upstate New York, I returned to Anguilla with the Fall Migration in its early stages. Warm weather along the Atlantic Flyway means birds are in no rush to move south for the winter.
The annual Global Shorebird Count scheduled for September 1 to 7 still goes on as planned, despite the weather. Nature Explorers Anguilla is always happy to paricipate.
September is one of the worst months for hurricane risk in Anguilla. With the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Irma looming on the 6th, Invest 91L was swirling to our east with a promise to divert north. As it turned into Tropical Storm Earl, Anguilla was hit with buckets of much overdue rain along with copius amounts of thunder and lightening. This meant pushing out the count a few days. While I waited for the weather to clear, a lovely Little Blue Heron landed on the rocks in front of the house and put on a nice show.
Little Blue Heron
A small break in the weather on the 5th sent me to the west for an afternoon of spectacular birding on Rendezvous, Cove and West End Ponds. Viewing is often best at these sites in the afternoon with the sun behind you. It makes identifying those tricky shorebirds, just a bit easier.
Semipalmated Plover
While many species arrive in their stunning breeding plumage like the plover above, their offspring may have dull or winter feather patterns.
Least Sandpiper & Semipalmated Sandpiper
It is also easier to distinguish the nuanced differences such as bill length, feather pattern and leg color, as seen in these two similar sandpiper species above. Tricky isn’t it?
While this count focused on shorebirds, I recorded all species including our residents, and this amazing Tricolored Heron that flew in mid count.
Tricolored Heron
This beautiful bird will overwinter here in Anguilla along with a number of other North American species.
As is often the case, I was lucky to spot a banded or flagged bird during the count. Over the last 11 years of monitoring Anguilla’s salt ponds, I have identified a number of birds carrying what I affectionately call “jewelry.” Some birds I have monitored for years and most return to the same wetland religiously. Ruddy Turnstones in particular have a high rate of site fidelity, making it easier for me to be on the lookout for specific individuals.
On September 7, 2022, I was able to capture a photograph of Ruddy Turnstone “LJ+.”
As you can see from the graphic above, this male bird carries a light green flag with black lettering “LJ+” on its left upper leg (follow the arrow.) How do I know it’s a male you ask? He has a strong black horseshoe collar, ruddy wings and dark head markings. The female of this species, even in breeding, carries more muted feather colors.
Once I identify the flag and have obtained a clear picture of it, I log into my account on bandedbirds.org where I am able to complete a form that registers the particulars of the “resighting.”
With the information accepted, I hit the “Map Your Resighting” button and a map like the one in the lower right corner of the graphic, is generated. It shows where the bird was originally captured and banded (May 2022 in Delaware), and where it has been seen and recorded since banding. In this case LJ+ was resighted in another spot in Deleware shortly after banding. My Anguilla resighting is the next entry . This doesn’t mean it made a non-stop trip from Delaware to Anguilla. It does not also preclude that happening. It just means no one else has reported the bird along the way. It also means this is most likely this individual’s first migration. We will see if this “snowbird” spends the winter on Anguilla, or moves on.
As of writing this piece, bandedbirds.org has not confirmed my resighting. It usually takes a bit of time for that to happen. Eventually it will be confirmed, based particularly on photographic evidence.
Royal & Sandwich Terns
Migration is a period of mixed emotion for me. On one hand I welcome back old friends and can’t help but wonder how their breeding season went. Was it a summer of happy moments raising new chicks along with their mates? Or did other forces intervene?
On the other, I say goodbye to our visiting seabirds that I have watched with mixed outcomes as they tried to raise their young right here in Anguilla. I enjoy the last few stragglers, and wish them well as they move back out to sea.
Overall, I identified 51 species of which 19 were shorebirds. Not bad considering the weather.
Next up on the Fall counting schedule for Nature Explorers Anguilla, is Global Big Day on October 8th!
For an extended look at this week in birding, check out our companion reel on YouTube at the link below!