Late-summer shorebirds at Bombay Hook

August 20, 2023 · Bombay Hook NWR, Delaware · Humid, partly cloudy, 78°F and climbing · Fujifilm X-T5, 150-600mm

Drove down from home before first light and was on the wildlife loop by 6 a.m. Tide was dropping, which meant the big flats at Raymond Pool had plenty of working shorebirds. Mostly yellowlegs and short-billed dowitchers, but I got onto a Stilt Sandpiper that held in decent light for a solid minute. A Hudsonian Godwit was reported the day before; I didn’t find it.

The greenheads are relentless at Bombay Hook in August. I wore long sleeves and still came home with bites on my knuckles. Worth it.

Greater yellowlegs wading in shallow water — Yellowlegs were the dominant species all morning. Greater Yellowlegs 450mm, 1/2000s, f/6.3, ISO 1250

Dowitcher feeding at mudflat edge — Sewing-machine feeding style. Short-billed Dowitcher 500mm, 1/1600s, f/7.1, ISO 400

Stilt sandpiper in molting plumage — Nicely lit for a change. ISO 800 felt generous. Stilt Sandpiper 500mm, 1/1250s, f/7.1, ISO 640

Small peep on wet mud — Had to ID from the photo later. Semipalmated Sandpiper 150mm, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 200

Snowy egret with a small fish — Bill like a yellow pencil. Snowy Egret 400mm, 1/1250s, f/6.3, ISO 800

Great blue heron still-hunting — Held this pose the entire time I was there. Great Blue Heron 450mm, 1/1250s, f/8, ISO 640

Clapper rail walking out of cordgrass — Walked out, realized its mistake, walked back in. Clapper Rail 150mm, 1/800s, f/7.1, ISO 800

Marsh wren on a reed — Got one clean frame before it dropped. Marsh Wren 150mm, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 200

Osprey with a fish in its talons — Fish faced forward. Textbook. Osprey with fish 350mm, 1/1250s, f/7.1, ISO 400

Wide view of salt marsh with channels — Between stops on the loop. Salt marsh at low tide 23mm, 1/125s, f/8, ISO 400

Least sandpiper with yellow legs — Smallest peep of the day. Least Sandpiper 300mm, 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO 400

Great egret lifting off — Wingspan fills the frame at 400mm. Great Egret 300mm, 1/1600s, f/6.3, ISO 400

Willet showing wing pattern — Willet flashing its wing pattern. Willet 400mm, 1/1250s, f/8, ISO 800