Fall Shorebird Migration Begins in August
Written by Andy McCormick
Andy McCormick, Volunteer and Former Board President of Eastside Audubon
Don’t wait for fall to look for shorebirds. Go now!
Once the June solstice is passed fall begins for shorebirds. In the breeding areas of the northern tundra these long-distance migrants begin to feel the urge to migrate south. By the end of July and the first two weeks of August adult shorebirds are flying south and can be expected to stop along Washington waterways to rest and refuel. Feeding flocks can be found on mudflats along the Pacific coast, the shores of Puget Sound, and the shallow ponds both east and west of the Cascades.
Fall migration is more protracted than spring migration. Adults begin their southward flight in July and some juveniles do not finish until November. This segmented migration provides birders with many opportunities to observe and learn shorebird identification.
ADULTS FIRST THEN JUVENILES
Most adult shorebirds in the early weeks of migration will not have molted their feathers and will look worn and somewhat dull. By the second half of August juvenile shorebirds will make their appearance. These birds will have molted into their first basic plumage and will look bright with crisp edges to their new feathers. As an aid to identifying shorebirds it is helpful to age them first. In fall the quality of the feathers will let you know if you have a juvenile in new plumage or an adult in worn plumage.
WHERE TO LOOK FOR SHOREBIRDS
Shorebird watching in Washington is excellent and there are many good locations west of the Cascades. In the north Wylie Slough and the expanded mudflats at the Fir Island Farm Reserve in the Conway area are both excellent for shorebirds. The new estuary at Eide Road in Stanwood has become an attractive area for a good variety of shorebirds. The Edmonds Marsh has been productive for fall shorebirds for many years.
South of Seattle shorebirds can be found in some of the ponds in the Kent Valley with the shallow pools on M Street in Auburn providing good shorebird viewing. The outer coast at Ocean Shores and the Oyehut Game Range and the mudflats at Bottle Beach are all excellent shorebirding locations.
Within the Eastside Audubon region and offering close views of shorebirds the Redmond Retention Ponds have been productive for shorebirds in September and the Sammamish River below the weir in Marymoor Park also attracts a few shorebirds.
DON’T FORGET THE TIDES
Remember to check tide charts when birding on the coast and around Puget Sound. Try to arrive about two hours before high tide so you will be in position as the tide pushes shorebirds onshore. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tide charts can be found at NOAA.gov.
Kenn Kaufman of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory has written a good summary of fall shorebird migration titled Timing of Fall Shorebird Migration - BSBO. The focus is on Ohio, but the general principles are applicable to Washington. The article provides a very nice sequence of the stages of fall migration and brief summaries of when to expect specific shorebird species.
Photo credit by Mick Thompson.