The crew is home after spending 14 days surveying shorebirds. This
report covers the period 27-29 July 2009 at Longridge Point, which is
60 km north of Moosonee on southern James Bay. Mark Peck of the Royal
Ontario Museum (ROM) led the crew comprising Amy Whitear (ROM), Doug
McRae, Don Shanahan, Gerry Binsfeld and Jean Iron.

SHOREBIRDS: Only high count days are listed and all birds are adults
except where noted. Additional information is included on the Red
Knot because it was the focus of the study.

Black-bellied Plover: 14 on 27 July.

American Golden-Plover: 1 on 27 July.

Semipalmated Plover: 96 on 27 July.

Killdeer: 3 on 29 July.

Spotted Sandpiper: 1 on 28 July.

Greater Yellowlegs: 187 on 27 July.

Lesser Yellowlegs: 525 on 27 July. Several juveniles on all three days.

Whimbrel: 189 on 27 July.

Hudsonian Godwit: 296 on 27 July.

Marbled Godwit: 1000+ birds were counted on 22 July during an aerial
survey of the south coast of Akimiski Island, Nunavut by Ken Ross
(pers. comm.) and Guy Morrison of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS).

Ruddy Turnstone: 296 on 27 July.

RED KNOT: 1100 on 27 July, 1060 on 28th and 750 on 29th. Habitat:
sandy tidal flats interspersed with large and small rocks and pools.
Counts: best times to count knots and check for leg flags were as the
tide came in concentrating them; at high tide when they roosted for 1
to 2 hours on rocks and grassy areas above the water line; and again
when they resumed feeding in freshly exposed wet sand and mud as the
tide retreated. Knots used the rich food resources to fatten and
undergo body molt. Mark Peck collected fecal samples on the mud to
determine later what the knots are eating. Flags: about 150
individuals had leg flags with many repeat sightings over the entire
period indicating long staying birds. When the data on flagged birds
are analyzed, we will know the approximate ages and ratio of males to
females, which was determined at time of banding using molecular
sexing techniques. Researchers in other locations of North and South
America will re-sight some of our birds so we will learn more about
the populations using James Bay and their migration routes.

Sanderling: 86 on 27 July.

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 1783 on 29 July. A bird flagged in New Jersey
was observed. This species has declined very significantly in recent
years. Possible causes include (1) the decline of Horseshoe Crabs in
Delaware Bay in spring affecting fat reserves to continue migration
and breed, (2) the spraying of wetlands in Suriname on the winter
range, and (3) increased disturbance in recent years by introduced
Peregrine Falcons (released anatum-types) in July and August at the
Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, which is reducing the length of
stopover and the time needed to fatten for the long migration over
the Atlantic to South America. The Tundra Peregrine Falcon
(subspecies tundrius) is not a problem at the Bay of Fundy because it
migrates from the Arctic in late September into October after the
Semipalmateds have departed.

Least Sandpiper: 127 on 27 July. A few juveniles on 28th and 29th.

White-rumped Sandpiper: Numbers increased daily with a high of 822 on 29 July.

Pectoral Sandpiper: 165 on 27 July.

Dunlin: 23 on 29 July.

Wilson's Snipe: 3 on 27 July. Snipe were still winnowing on 29 July.

OTHER BIRDS: Location is Longridge except where noted: Aerial surveys
on 26-28 July counted at least 10,000 molting Black Scoters (mainly
males) in the Longridge area (Ken Ross, CWS). Yellow Rail, still
clicking frequently both day and night. Sandhill Crane, pair with two
juveniles on 29 July. Little Gull, 2 adults on 27 July. Bonaparte's
Gulls, a high of 458 on 27 July included a few year old nonbreeders,
but no juveniles. Arctic Tern, 1 on 27 July and 28th; terns at
Longridge were mostly Commons. Great Horned Owl hooting on 26th.
Long-eared Owl heard on 29th. Short-eared Owl seen on 28th. HENSLOW'S
SPARROW singing on 27, 28 and 29 July in an extensive dry grass
meadow dotted with short willow shrubs and wildflowers between the
high tide line and tree edge. Savannah Sparrow, common. Le Conte's
Sparrow, still singing. Nelson's Sparrow (subspecies alterus), still
singing. Clay-colored Sparrow, 3 singing on 27 and 28 July and 1 on 29th.

MAMMALS: 2 Belugas on 29 July. Striped Skunk on 27th. Small mammal
numbers such as voles were low at Longridge.

Yellow marker on map shows location of Longridge Point.
http://www.jeaniron.ca/2009/James-Bay-2009-REKN.jpg

A total of 109 bird species was recorded including 24 shorebird
species for the 14 day period 16-29 July 2009. Next report will
include a link to photos.

Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway
Toronto, Ontario, Canada