EUROPEAN STARLINGS, PATTERSSON SIDEROAD, PALGRAVE, ON

WILD TURKEYS, PATTERSSON SIDEROAD, PALGRAVE, ON

FEMALE BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NONQUON SEWAGE LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON

SONG SPARROW, NONQUON SEWAGE LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON

MIXED FLOCK OF SHOREBIRDS, NONQUON SEWAGE LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON

   These two photos show some of the mixed flock of shorebirds, including plovers and sandpipers, that were at the southern cell of the Nonquon Sewage Lagoons.  This cell had many sandbars, so it was very hospitable to the shorebirds.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, NONQUON SEWAGE LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON

   We can ID these sandpipers as Semipalmated Sandpipers, most likely juveniles, as follows:

• Black, straighg, tubular, thick at base, blunt-tipped bill which is significantly shorter than head width.  The Western Sandpiper, which it can be confused with, generally has a longer (same length as head width), slightly drooping, pointed bill.
• Black legs.
• Dark cap.
• Short neck.
• Gray-brown on top and white underneath.
• The dingy breast band together with the scaly upperparts indicate they are probably  juveniles.

   The Semipalmated Sandpiper is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 311.

FEMALE MALLARD, NONQUON SEWAGE LAGOONS, PORT PERRY, ON