International Migratory Bird Day on Saturday at Oak Hammock Marsh was probably overshadowed at Oak Hammock Marsh this Saturday by the early morning appearance of a Ruff, a Eurasian shorebird known for its lek dances. Unfortunately the guy who spotted (and photographed for all you naysayers) the bird saw it at 7am. By the time yours truly showed up for the early morning birdwalk, the Ruff had well and truly moved on, and no doubt proved that the ‘early morning’ bird walk was not nearly ‘early morning’ enough!
But International Migratory Bird Day was great for other things. Christian Artuso and I led bird walks for two groups with about 20 or so people. We had a great time seeing nearly 60 species including great views of Dunlin, Baird’s Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Greater White-fronted Goose to name just a few.
Early morning bird walk looking at an Eared Grebe. Copyright Tim Poole
The remainder of the day included bird banding, a shorebird workshop and a warbler talk by Christian and I led a cub scout birding trip. The highlight however were the birds. The shorebird workshop proved especially useful, mainly thanks to some very helpful shorebirds. Here are a couple of lessons from the session using photos taken on the day on the front pond.
Least Sandpiper (back turned) versus White-rumped Sandpiper. note the size difference. The wings also project beyond the tail on the White-rumped which has black legs versus yellow. Copyright Tim Poole
Ok, didn’t quite turn out in this picture, but you can still see the wings on the Least Sandpiper (exiting stage left) do not project beyond the tail as with the White-rumped. Copyright Tim Poole
Stuck behind the vegetation but again look at size difference for Least versus in this case a Dunlin. The black belly mark is also a key id feature. Copyright Tim Poole
Christian has the most comprehensive list (minus the Ruff as he didn’t spot it). Here is his list. All photos copyright Tim Poole
Greater White – fronted Goose – 1
Canada Goose – 300
Trumpeter Swan – 1
Gadwall – 17
American Wigeon – 1
Mallard – 200
Blue – winged Teal – 55
Northern Shoveler – 350
Northern Pintail – 15
Green – winged Teal (American) – 9
Canvasback – 12
Redhead – 8
Ring – necked Duck – 1
Lesser Scaup – 18
Hooded Merganser – 1
Ruddy Duck – 1
Sharp – tailed Grouse – 4
Pied – billed Grebe – 1
Horned Grebe – 1
Western Grebe – 2
Double – crested Cormorant – 8
American White Pelican – 1
Turkey Vulture – 1
Northern Harrier – 2
Red – tailed Hawk – 1
Sora – 1
American Coot (Red – shielded) – 32
American Avocet – 1
Semipalmated Plover – 1
Killdeer – 40
Hudsonian Godwit – 8
Marbled Godwit – 5
Dunlin – 16
Baird’s Sandpiper – 1
Least Sandpiper – 28
White – rumped Sandpiper – 1
As was posted on a Facebook thread, Garry has managed to capture another diagnostic feature of this White-rumped Sandpiper, showing the pink lower mandible (beak). Also note the grey plumage. If this was Baird’s Sandpiper it would be far buffier, especially around the neck
Pectoral Sandpiper – 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper – 3
Short – billed Dowitcher – 18
Short-billed Dowitchers feedling in the front pond. The lack of white tips to the wing feathers (see through a scope) ruled out Long-billed Dowitcher. Copyright Tim Poole
Wilson’s Snipe – 1
Wilson’s Phalarope – 17
Greater Yellowlegs – 1
Willet – 5
Lesser Yellowlegs – 36
Franklin’s Gull – 36
Ring – billed Gull – 2
Forster’s Tern – 6
Mourning Dove – 5
Merlin (Prairie) – 1
Black – billed Magpie – 3
American Crow – 8
Common Raven – 1
Purple Martin – 22
Tree Swallow – 48
Bank Swallow – 10
Barn Swallow – 24
Cliff Swallow – 6
Ruby – crowned Kinglet – 1
American Robin – 5
European Starling – 4
Yellow Warbler – 1
Palm Warbler (Western) – 1
Yellow – rumped Warbler (Myrtle) – 4
Chipping Sparrow – 1
Clay – colored Sparrow – 14
White – crowned Sparrow – 2
Harris’s Sparrow – 1
White – throated Sparrow – 6
Vesper Sparrow – 1
Savannah Sparrow – 17
Song Sparrow – 6
Lincoln’s Sparrow – 2
Swamp Sparrow – 9
Bobolink – 2
Red – winged Blackbird – 200
Western Meadowlark – 24
Yellow – headed Blackbird – 100
Brewer’s Blackbird – 25
Common Grackle – 30
Brown – headed Cowbird – 20
Manitoba Important Bird Areas Program 