Migrant Shorebirds, 4/11/25

I ran up tp Falcon State Park yesterday and was surprised to find a single American Golden-Plover on a rocky spit on the Starr County side.  They are common this time of year in open fields and turf farms in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties but this was a first for me for Starr County.  When it flushed I hoped it wopuld cross the water into Zapata County but it went the wrong way.

Otherwise it was the regular Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers.

A week ago I found three Snowy Plovers on the Zapata County side.  I don't think it would be inconceivable for them to nest here but they were most likely migrants.

A few days ago I made the run up the baeach at South Padre Island.  As sea levels rise, it seems every spring it is more difficult to make the 25 mile drive up to the Port Mansfield channel.  But this was a good day with firm sand and not many people.  Not far up from Beach Access 6, I found eight Baird's Sandpipers.  These may be the first I've ever seen at the beach.  Usually they are on mud flats and usually on the drier portion.

Only one Red Knot may have been a early migrant or a winter hold over.  It was along the Willacy County portion of the beach.

I saw several dozen Piping Plovers.

But only a few Wilson's Plovers.

I posted a photo of this banded American Oystercatcher on Facebook and Stephanie Bilodeau claimed credit for banding it in March 2022 on a spoil island in the Lower Laguna Madre.

Spotted Sandpipers always look out of place on the beach.  After Killdeer it was my second lifer shorebird many years ago along a gravelly stream in the Ozarks.

I found another surprising shorebird species earlier in the day.  After crossing the Laguna Madre I pulled over and parked at the base of the causeway on South Padre Island.  A familiar "toodle" call cause me to look up and I fired a shot at the four shorebirds passing overhead.  At the time I knew the call was familiar but I was thinking American Golden-Plover.  Nope they were Upland Sandpipers.  I have to relearn calls every year.

Gee as I type this I am getting a report of a Short-tailed Hawk at Santa Ana and Flame-colord Tanagers at both Quinta Mazatlan and South Padre Island.  There's no rest for the weary.