Weekend Preview: Plovers Plus

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     Water levels are still historically low in the main impoundment at DeKorte, but the maintenance work is almost over and there is a need to bring water back in to rehydrate the mud, flush the impoundment, replenish the fish population, and (soon) bring water levels up for the wintering ducks.

    Water levels should be low throughout the weekend, though,  and we still have plenty of shorebirds around — including this Black-bellied Plover and six of his buddies.

  IMG_8724 We saw him toward the end of the Transco Trail, near the Turnpike. Smaller photo shows his "black armpit," a good diagnostic. We took these photos Thursday.

   We also have plenty of Semipalmated Plovers, a Semipalmated Sandpiper or two, and a Pectoral Sandpiper or two — in addition the dozens of egrets and gulls and yellowlegs. Also seen: Green-winged Teal, Ruddies, Black-crowned Night Herons.

   If breeze is strong , the birds tend to be hunkered down in the back. Best viewing is from blind on the Marsh Discovery Trail, second-closest to the Transco Trail.

   The last reported Sora was last Sunday but they could still be around. Ditto the Least Bittern.

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