Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (Sep 4, 2009)

I arrived at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at 2pm. Bird numbers and species diversity on the northern portion of the East Pond were low. The two previously observed Avocets were present but stayed out of good shooting range until around 4pm.

For the next three hours the bird photography picked up as the Avocets moved closer and a few other species began feeding along the edge of the pond. The afternoon light was good as the sun faded into the slightly cloudy western sky. Below are a few images from the day.

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) in flight (East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) flapping its wings prior to take-off (East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) pair feeding (East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) feeding in fading afternoon light (East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)

Late in the afternoon there was a nice group of Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitchers, Stilt Sandpipers, and one Wilson's Phalarope feeding close to the edge of the pond.

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) pair take off into flight (East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)

Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) in non-breeding plumage searching for food (East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)

Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) (East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)

Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)

Click on the photos above for more information, click on the species name to see all images of that species, or click here to see more images from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

All images © Clarence Holmes