Flat Bay, Harrington, shore bird recap

[Merle and Anne Archie]

The past two weeks brought in the bulk of the Semipalmated Sandpiper migration that uses Flat Bay. Our highest count was 4,000 of them scattered along the water’s edge for about a mile’s distance south to north. There were hundreds of Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover and scattering of Least Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitchers. We didn’t get up to the northern part of the bay at “last mud” very often. That is the place to get the surprise shorebirds. 

The highest Whimbrel count was 55 on August 10. This is distressing as last year we observed 122 Whimbrel on August 6. Of course we could have missed a large flock as we were not home for a few days in early August. It’s just something we will have to keep close watch on. I am hoping they have found another place to feed rather than their numbers are plunging so badly. 

Shorebird numbers are decreasing now as migration grinds on....

Anne Archie, Harrington