Pelicans, Terns and Shorebirds at Norbury's Landing

A low-tide walk at Norbury's Landing, on the Delaware Bayshore about 10 miles north of Cape May Point, yielded the first Brown Pelican of the summer at this location for me. Even more exciting, a tight migrating flock of 26 Willets (distant and in the sun, but based on shape and thick bill structure I believe Eastern) flew south along the bayshore and then dispersed, coalesced, and crossed the bay. Eastern Willets get out of town early, any willet after July is likely a Western. Something to pay attention to, since Eastern and Western Willet are a very likely future "split."

Also exciting were several juvenile Least Terns of this year's brood, flying well and being fed by attending parents. These birds were farther along than those we saw at the meadows just yesterday - I wonder where they are from.

Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper were all new since spring. I was expecting Sanderlings, but none appeared. Perhaps next time.
Complete list is below.

Location: Norbury's Landing
Observation date: 7/17/07
Notes: Walked north from the landing ~ 1 mile, low tide, incoming on return.
Number of species: 28
Mallard 1
Brown Pelican 1 First I've seen at Norbury's.
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 10
Osprey 2
Clapper Rail 8 Several calling in slow series of keks that make you want to say it's a King, haven't heard this call pattern until today.
Willet 30 Includes a flock of 26 flying south along the beach, then heading out across the bay, in the sun and silouetted but pretty sure Eastern.
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 first since may
Least Sandpiper 30 first since may
Laughing Gull 50
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Forster's Tern 4
Least Tern 10 There were 1-2 fledglings with the adults, begging and being fed but flying well
Black Skimmer 7
Eastern Kingbird 3
Purple Martin 3
Barn Swallow 25 a big increase from last visit, includes new fledglings no doubt
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
Common Yellowthroat 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 2
House Sparrow 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)