American Avocet @ Jamaica Bay

I decided to bird the East Pond of Jamaica Bay today once again to see if there were any changes since last Thursday.  Overall numbers seem down with a few exceptions but species diversity is up.  Unfortunately last week's Long-billed Dowitcher and Western Sandpiper have moved on.  Below are estimates.  While studying some Semipalmated Sandpipers I ran into Andew Baksh who alerted me to this female American Avocet!  Female Avocets have much more recurved bills while the males are straighter.   

 

Compare this male with above pictures of today's female American Avocet 

35   Black-bellied Plover

75   Semipalmated Plover

1     American Avocet

1     Great Yellowlegs

9     Lesser Yellowlegs

1     Ruddy Turnstone

1     Red Knot

550 Semipalmated Sandpiper (Photo Below)

 

1     Least Sandpiper (Photo Below)

 

24   Stilt Sandpiper
65   Short-billed Dowitcher