Tony Amos Beach 2016-08-12

On August 12, 2016 starting at about 7:30 AM I spent about 3 hours driving on the beach from Access Road 1 to Access Road 2 and counting birds. Here's my complete eBird checklist and attached are my observations.

Sanderlings are back in force, and I counted over 700. I was surprised by the number of Least Terns I observed, over 200, mostly in groups of 4 to 25 loafing on the beach. I was also able to photograph 5 different banded Piping Plovers. I don't know the best way to share these observations with the banders since the coordinates are obscured for this species. Other interesting observations included a Willet with what I assume was oil on the left side of its neck feathers, and a Marbled Godwit with an injured foot, which it seemed to be walking on just fine even though the foot was upside down.

Posted on August 13, 2016 09:34 PM by mikaelb mikaelb

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 09:52 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Twice I saw this juvenile Sandwich Tern begging from an adult.

Photos / Sounds

What

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 2016

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Banded Piping Plover 8T8

Photos / Sounds

What

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 2016

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Banded Piping Plover U31

Photos / Sounds

What

Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 10:01 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Photos / Sounds

What

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 09:45 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Many Black Terns are on the island now, but there were very few on the beach.

Photos / Sounds

What

Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 09:28 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Photos / Sounds

What

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 08:59 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Photos / Sounds

What

Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 08:38 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

This is one of many groups of Least Terns I observed on the beach. It was one of the larger groups.

Photos / Sounds

What

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 08:27 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

This bird's right foot is turned over, but it was not limping at all.

Photos / Sounds

What

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 2016

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Tagged Piping Plover White Flag

Photos / Sounds

What

Willet (Tringa semipalmata)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 08:21 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

I think this Willet has a patch of oil or tar on its feathers on the left side of its throat. I've heard in cold weather this can cause a bird to freeze to death. Here I hope that won't be an issue before it molts.

Photos / Sounds

What

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 2016

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Photos / Sounds

What

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 2016

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Tagged Piping Plover 07A

Photos / Sounds

What

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 07:49 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Photos / Sounds

What

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 2016

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

These tiny threatened birds share the beach with vehicles of all shapes and sizes, from bicycles and golf carts to road graders!

Photos / Sounds

What

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 07:42 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

Photos / Sounds

What

Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)

Observer

mikaelb

Date

August 12, 2016 07:41 AM CDT

Description

Taken on the Tony Amos Beach on Mustang Island between Access Road 1 and Access Road 2.

This is one of over 200 Least Terns I observed, that were mostly on the beach in groups of 6 to 25.

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