American Avocet at Jamaica Bay - 14th Aug.

My first wader-watching excursion of autumn, and what a cracking day. The main target was an American Avocet which had been seen on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay for the last 2 days, and it was very obliging. Other nice waders included a brief visit from a flock of 5 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Stilt Sandpipers, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers and a Spotted Sandpiper, as well as the usual waders expected at this time of year (Least sandpiper, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Grey Plover, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Semi-palmated Plover, Kildeer). A nice bonus was a pair of Gull-billed Terns. The day was topped off by a juvenile Bald Eagle scaring everything into hiding!

American Avocet. Fed actively for most of the morning, then settled down for a snooze. Twice it disappeared while no-one was watching, then reappeared equally stealthily.

Two of five Pectoral Sandpipers that made a very brief (less than 15 minutes) stop-over.

Only two Stilt Sandpipers seen today...

...but lots of Lesser Yellowlegs.

This juvenile Bald Eagle managed to clear out the entire pond!