I first climbed up the deck at the Nature Center where I scoped out the birds along the shore of the Mispillion River. There were laughing gulls and dunlins by the hundreds and also numerous ruddy turnstones. I was able to pick out some red knots picking at the horseshoe crab eggs. These birds were difficult to sort out because of distance and the bright sun in my eyes. Other birds identified included ring-billed gulls, ospreys, willets, red-winged blackbirds, and short-billed dowitchers. After leaving the deck, I walked down Lighthouse Road to the set of guardrails that flanked the road. The highlight was watching two clapper rails in the low-water level creek on the west side of the road at the guardrail. I watched them for about 20 minutes. Short-billed dowitchers and willets were also seen in this general area. A seaside sparrow was seen in the field on the way back to the parking lot.
MY PHOTOS: clapper rails, short-billed dowitcher, ring-billed gull, red-winged blackbird, ruddy turnstone, willet
