Bolivar Peninsula
Next day we aimed to visit the famous Bolivar Flats. However, there were places to visit on the way and we started out at some more flooded fields near Winnie. (Different fields flood each year so local knowledge is required to find the best ones).
From the roadside we picked up a male Northern Harrier, lots of Willet, singles of Greater Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpiper, Hudsonian Whimbrel, eight Semipalmated Plovers, 100+ Short-billed Dowitchers and 14 'long-billed' Dunlin. Next stop, still at this flooded area but up a track, we added a Belted Kingfisher in a tree and seven American Golden-plover. I was very happy to find a couple of Buff-breasted Sandpipers, soon followed by people finding a Peregrine sitting on a mud ridge in a dry field and a female Dickcissel in a distant bush. The latter meant we had to do a quick march back down the track for a betterview and we watched this bird sitting next to the now-moved Belted Kingfisher.
Another flooded field, some miles further on, held loads of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, a few Pectoral Sandpipers, Dunlin, Willet, Hudsonian Whimbrel and two pairs of Blue-winged Teal.
Our next stop was along the Bolivar Peninsula at a place called Rollover Pass. This is an area of mudflats and shallow saltwater and held Black Skimmers, Forster's, Royal, Common (one only), Sandwich (one Sandwich Tern had a very pink breast) and Least Terns. Marsh terns were represented by Gull-billed Tern and a single Black Tern, plus Willets, five Marbled Godwits, a few American Avocets, American White and Brown Pelicans, Sanderlings, Western Sandpipers, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers. On the water there were two female Red-breasted Mergansers. Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret were also seen.
Flooded fields near Winnie
We walked along the sandy beach to the first pools. I stopped to 'scope the birds and the first thing I saw was a Piping Plover! These birds were easy to get here and there were quite a few around. After that we just spent the time in amazement. All I can do is list what we saw - you have to be there to really experience the sheer numbers and variety of birds. Waders first: a pair of Wilson's Plover, Red Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper (loads), Semipalmated Sandpiper, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone and, what a sight, about 8000 American Avocets! Larger waterbirds were represented by both pelicans, Tricolored, Snowy Egret and Roseate Spoonbill. Terns were present in their thousands: Least, Royal, Forster's, Caspian. Also around were Black Skimmers, Laughing Gulls and a few Blue-winged Teal.
Another stop was at an area of marsh and some mud. Whilst scanning the marsh, which was actually a huge area of long grasses, heads of Willets could be seen plus a lone Long-billed Curlew and, when they flew, Seaside Sparrows. A female Northern Harrier flew over the marsh and the occasional Lesser Yellowlegs flew up from the deep grass. After some effort we all managed to get views of one of the target birds, Clapper Rail. Some stayed for better views whilst others of the group went in search of Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Unfortunately we had no luck with that bird but we did see another Clapper Rail plus Green Heron and Wilson's Plover.
Finally we reached the end of the peninsula – the famous Bolivar Flats. We had seen this on video but that didn't really show the enormity of the spectacle we were about to see.
Terns and gulls at Bolivar
We walked along the sandy beach to the first pools. I stopped to 'scope the birds and the first thing I saw was a Piping Plover! These birds were easy to get here and there were quite a few around. After that we just spent the time in amazement. All I can do is list what we saw – you have to be there to really experience the sheer numbers and variety of birds. Waders first: a pair of Wilson's Plover, Red Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper (loads), Semipalmated Sandpiper, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone and, what a sight, about 8000 American Avocets! Larger waterbirds were represented by both pelicans, Tricolored Heron, Snowy Egret and Roseate Spoonbill. Terns were present in their thousands: Least, Royal, Forster's and Caspian. Also around were Black Skimmers, Laughing Gulls and a few Blue-winged Teal.
Western Sandpiper
American Avocets
Least Tern
Piping Plover
Terns at Bolivar