We took a break from our field work tracking and photographing white sharks here on Cape Cod to head to a favorite birding spot on Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at birds that are passing through the refuge on their southerly migration. We also include some images of shorebirds that were still in breeding plumage heading north that were taken in May.
Hudsonian godwit feeding in a brackish tidal pool. A great sighting for us!
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge looking southwest to the “Powderhole”, a prime stopping off point for southbound migrating birds in late summer and fall.
Black bellied plover feeding..now losing its bright black breeding plumage
The petite Least sandpiper, note the green legs. This little guy is only 5 inches long and weighs about 1 oz!!
Lesser yellow legs striking a pose
Hudsonian godwit scratches the itch.
Snowy egret hunting intently
Snowy egrets displaying
Red knots. Note the band on one of them. This little bird flew all the way up from southern Patagonia. The northbound banded bird made an unscheduled stop in Chatham after Delaware Bay indicating a scarcity of its traditional horseshoe crab eggs food source at its first stop. This was very concerning to the bird researchers and conservationists we talked to when we reported the band.
The bright reddish brown color indicates they will be breeding soon, Images taken in Chatham late May on north bound migration.
Breeding horseshoe crabs near Tern Island in Chatham. This phenomenon occurs at the end of May in various places on the eastern seaboard principally Delaware Bay.
Ruddy turnstone chewing on some lobster scraps
Semiplamated plovers
Dunlins and red knots (larger birds) in flight over Tern Island in Chatham
Dunlins catches a tiny crab. Note bright breeding plumage. Taken in late May on north bound birds.
Semipalmated sandpiper checks in the mirror.
