7 replies to this topic

[CraigT]

Hello everybody, I have been quietly watching and learning for a while now. I'm pretty new to birding and I have a few pictures of birds I can not ID. I took this picture at the New Jersey shore yesterday. I think I have the ID correct but the information I can find regarding range says this guy should not be here this time of year. Do I have it right? Is this a Semipalmated Plover?

[Pat B.]

Looks like a Semipalmated, and Sibley shows it everywhere in US, including NJ, during migration.

[birdbrain22]

Yes it is a Semipalmated Plover... a very common plover here along the coast and everywhere else.

[CraigT]

Looks like a Semipalmated, and Sibley shows it everywhere in US, including NJ, during migration.

I must be misunderstanding the range maps. As I said, I am new to this. It just looks like this bird doesn't belong here in the summer. I see they commonly migrate through here. So would it be correct to say this bird is just passing through?

[birdbrain22]

Yes sort of...they do not breed here, but are found throughout both spring and fall migration. However some are seen throughout the summer right along the coast. I think these may be non-breeders and do not want to expend the energy to fly all the way North. They are one of the first spring shorebirds to arrive and head South. I see them from late March- mid fall.

Also remember the "fall" migration usually begins at mid-July for some shorebirds...and early/mid August is peak time for these guys. So seeing these guys at this time is pretty common. We saw a few hundred Semipalmated Plovers today.

[Pat B.]

Also remember the "fall" migration usually begins at mid-July for some shorebirds

That's happening here now - we are seeing fall migrants, shorebirds and others, also.

[CraigT]

Thanks for the insight, it seems I have much to learn.

[blackburnian]

agree