Semipalmated Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstone at Rush Creek Delta

Observers: Justin Hite and Leigh Bernachi
Email: justinhiteatgmaildotcom
Date: 07/31/2008
Time: 05:59 PM -0400

We found a single Semipalmated Sandpiper among a group of Western Sandpipers this morning at Rush Creek Delta. Very short stubby black bill, black legs, strong white eyebrow, evenly brown scaled back, and a total lack of rufous in the plumage (all the Westerns still had some rufous feathers). The Ruddy Turnstone was first seen at the Rush Delta two days ago, and it's still hanging out on the rockier sandbars. In total there were 13 species of scolopacids: 1 Long-billed Curlew, 1 Marbled Godwit, 13 Willet, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Wilson's Phalarope, 14 Red-necked Phalarope, 4 Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Short-billed Dowitcher, 25 Western Sandpiper, 3 Least Sandpiper, and 10 Spotted Sandpiper. Also a single Red-breasted Merganser offshore floating around with the Gadwall babies.

SESA in the back on the left, WESA in profile on the right: