Greetings All:
Amidst the hordes of shorebirds at the Bison Road Playa, there was one
American Golden Plover this afternoon. Farmers are actively draining this
playa and it may not be around much longer - definitely worth looking at if
you are on the prowl for shorebirds.
To get there drive to Alamo Road on the eastern outskirts of Levelland via
Highway 114, turn south on Alamo Road and proceed to its intersection with
Bison Road, turn east on Bison Road and proceed to the playa. Take care
when parking: the shoulder is still quite squishy and it would be pretty
easy to get stuck.
Other shorebirds present at the site today included Black-necked Stilt,
American Avocet, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Stilt
Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper,
Long-billed Dowitcher, and Wilson's Phalarope. There may well have been
Semipalmated Sandpipers at the site as well - quite a few peeps were along
the back edge of the playa and, between heathaze and wind, I was not able
to identify every one of the sandpiper folk.
I will post highlights from the day later - just wanted to get the word out
about the plover.
Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock