Bolivar Peninsula, Texas: 30 March 2010

A late afternoon run down to the shore was worth it for massive wheeling flocks of sandpipers seen at Rollover Pass, along with at least 6 plump Piping Plovers. When we arrived on the beach at HAS Bolivar Flats further along the peninsula we were greeted by the sight of packs of terns loafing on the beach, and small parties shorebirds combing the shore. The highlight was this rich cinnamon Long-billed Curlew, that glowed in the early evening sunlight (top photo). A number of these "well-endowed" curlews were found on the sandy beach to our surprise, (as they are more often on the "semi-desert " like habitat along the peninsula). Also on the sand were groups of Royal Terns (middle photo), and a small party of elegant Marbled Godwits were watched probing the mud. Although the higher numbers of shorebirds were around the jetty on 17th Street, where Western Sandpipers were among a throng of waders probing the mud, and a rather large flock (35+) of Gull-billed Terns also lifted off the mud as they headed off to roost, as the sun set on our first full day of the spring migration season (bottom photo).

Much more to come from the Upper Texas Coast throughout April...