Kitsap Today

Ken and I met to bird some shorebird areas in Kitasp today, and had a nice day though no FOY shorebirds for Ken, did manage to hear and see a pair of Red Crossbills near Kitsap Lake. Best shorebirding of the day was at the mouth of Chico Creek where we got nice looks at adult and juvenile Greater Yellowlegs and Least Sandpiper, as well as 10 Black-bellied plover. Here are my favorite photos. Interestingly of the BBPL 9 of the 10 (all adults) were females. I believe like many shorebirds that female BBPL leave the breeding grounds shortly after the young hatch leaving what little parenting is needed to the male, and so this makes sense early in fall migration.

Greater Yellowlegs and Black-bellied Plovers
Greater Yellowlegs and Black-bellied Plovers
I nice fly by of the BBPL after they were flushed by a Pelagic Cormorant fly over.
I nice fly by of the BBPL after they were flushed by a Pelagic Cormorant fly over.