Surveying the Presa

I spent Wednesday morning counting waders at Presa Centenario as part of DUMAC's national project on shorebirds.  Autumn is by far the best time of year for waders at Centenario, when lots of passage birds stop off on their way south.  However, winter can still throw up some decent birds.

I recorded:

Black-necked Stilts 43

American Avocet 1

Greater Yellowlegs 2

Killdeer 37

Long-billed Dowitcher 4

Western Sandpiper 2

Spotted Sandpiper 14

Least Sandpiper 217

Other highlights around the Presa were cracking views of a hunting Northern Harrier and Crested Caracara, still big numbers of Northern Shoveler, Mexican Duck, Northern Pintail, Ruddy Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal and Eared Grebe.  1 American White Pelican floated over without settling, and there were a few Black-crowned Night Herons.  In the scrub were Northern Mockingbird, Blue Grosbeaks, Cactus Wrens, Curve-billed Thrashers, Loggerhead Shrikes, Canyon Towhees, lots of Lark Sparrows and a good Black-chinned Sparrow.

Meanwhile back in the garden, the Hummingbirds continue to visit the feeder..

Broad-billed Hummingbird

 A few other birds, such as this House Wren, have sniffed around.

House Wren

Forster Care

A very brief trip to the Presa on Thursay evening came up trumps in the form of this fine Forster's Tern near the dam.  Some brief scans of the water revealed massive flocks of Shoveler, Ruddy Duck and Eared Grebe and smaller numbers of Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal and Ring-necked Duck.  There remains water, but it is currently being drained.  

  

Forster's Tern, Presa Centenario

At the feeding station.

I've set up a little feeding station outside of my front window.  The first to take advantage of it have been the Hummingbirds.  Both of Tequis's species (Violet-crowned and Broad-billed) are regular visitors, popping down for a drink of nectar from the feeder.  

Not much interest from other species as yet, though I did just have an Orange-crowned Warbler sniffing around.  

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Violet-crowned Hummingbird