Chirps and Cheeps

I met Celeste over at the Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant today and we were pleased to find some interesting shorebirds. Doug Beattie joined us about mid-way and pointed out a spot where I got a year first, a Semipalmated Sandpiper.

A Short-billed Dowitcher was foraging along one of the ponds and we got some very nice views of it. Celeste observed the spotting along its sides, which is a strong fieldmark for a Short-billed. As we were enjoying watching the dowitcher, a Trumpeter Swan flew in. That was unusual! Even more surprising, were two Black Terns that Doug found.

Several Purple Martins were flying around the ponds hawking insects along with about 50 Chimney Swifts and several other swallows. Celeste was pleased to see the martins and has hopes that they'll nest in the colony apartments that were installed at the plant last spring.