Observers: Jon Dunn, Andy Zdon, and Nancy States
Email: cerwa@earthlink.net
Verification: MONO
Remote Name: 72.47.2.219
Date: 07/21/2007
Time: 04:12 PM -0400
On 20 and 21 July I birded Crowley Lake, with Nancy States on the 20th and with Andy Zdon on the 21st. I felt that numbers of shorebirds were decidedly low. Highlights included three adult Short-billed Dowitchers on the 20th, two of which were photographed in loose association with three Long-billed Dowitchers. A Black-bellied Plover was present both days. Six Marbled Godwits on the 20th were reduced to three on the 21st. A basic plumaged Common Loon was seen on both days and a female Bufflehead was present on the 21st. We found a different brood of American Wigeon ducklings (with accompaning females) on each day. A female Northern Pintail at the McGee arm on 21 July had a brood of ducklings. Broods of Mallard, Gadwall, and Cinnamon Teal were also observed. Eight Black Terns on the 21st included a single juvenal plumaged bird. Of some 500 California Gulls counted on the 21st, one was a juvenile. A dozen or so SY Bonaparte's Gulls continue on the west side of the McGee arm of Crowley Lake (both days). JLD