Date: 8/2/26 4:58 pm From: Florence Sanchez via groups.io <sanchezucsb11...> Subject: [sbcobirding] More on Shorebirds
I checked the beach at Coal Oil Point again early this morning. Surprisingly for a weekend, there were very few people on the beach at that time. Few major changes: I could find either of the Black Turnstones I saw yesterday. A single Forester's Tern continues hanging with the larger terns.
Black-bellied plovers were scattered along the length of the beach, with the majority of them foraging west of the Dune Pond Trail Marker. I counted 103 this morning, all molting adults, no juveniles yet. With the appearance of a Pacific Golden-Plover at the Santa Ynez River mouth, I gave each individual careful scrutiny. We are due for this species.
Afterward, I checked Devereux Slough, which was pretty quiet. I found a small group of small shorebirds fairly near the half-bridge: 7 Western Sandpipers, 1 Least Sandpiper, and 6 Semi-palmated Plovers. Of the 7 Westerns, 6 were fresh-plumaged juveniles.
I then checked Area K, which continues to be overrun with Egrets, both species. Quite an impressive show. The shorebird population was somewhat disappointing--not much species variety. I counted 19 Greater Yellowlegs, 6 Black-necked Stilts, 4 Dowitchers, and 2 Kildeer. All continue to forage at the eastern end of the wetland and thus there may have been other birds tucked out of sight.
Florence Sanchez(PS--A Warning: The Isla Vista portion of the Beach at Coal Oil Point has lots of tar to contend with.)
