Birdwatching Ocean antics: Birds on the move

Published 10:50 am Tuesday, September 26, 2017

By Dr. Madeline A. Kalbach

For the Observer

Autumn is an exciting time on the Willapa national Wildlife Refuge and the Long Beach Peninsula. Songbirds, ducks and other waterfowl are on the move.

Currently, the ocean shore is one of the best places to witness the migration of many different shorebird species, seabirds and other waterfowl. During the past week or so there has been a beach party going on. The sooty shearwaters continue to move back and forth along the ocean feasting to build up energy for the trek to their breeding grounds.

Hundreds of sanderlings can also be seen racing along with the waves all the while probing sand for invertebrate prey. At this time of year, they appear to be all white from a distance — but up close only their underside is white. Their backs are a very pale gray.

Sometimes the flock of sanderlings is dotted with one or two dark, brown slightly larger shorebirds, called dunlin. In reality, they appear to be about the same size. Unlike the sanderling, dunlin mover slowly along the beach probing constantly in shallow water or in the sand for tasty insects. Dunlin are relatively common on our beaches at times, as well as on the mudflats of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. At the moment you can see carpets of sanderlings and very soon carpets of dunlin will be here too.

Western sandpipers are still moving through as well. They can be seen wandering by themselves or associating with dunlin as they search for tiny insects in the sand.

Other birds on the move include marbled godwits. They are also feeding in preparation for their journey to their wintering grounds. Small flocks are now appearing on our mudflats and ocean beaches, but look for other shorebirds among the flock because they often associate loosely with others. One flock seen last week was clearly hanging out with two dowitchers.

The ocean antics in our area continue. A wide variety of birds can be seen on the ocean beaches these days as well as on the refuge. So head for the beach at low tide and have a look. Prepare to be entertained!