
My first birding stop this morning was Lakeshore State Park. I having been hitting it regularly the last few weeks waiting for the American Avocets. This morning was the day as 14 were present when I arrived, btw, my favorite bird! A few minutes later 24 Willets showed up and a while later another ~35 showed up. It was exciting to see this species again. Last year May 5, was the day they showed up at this park. Very skittish they were as when a person walking by the beach area at the park, the American Avocets flushed and landed in the lagoon in a very tight group. It seemed that after about 15-20 minutes they worked their way back to the beach area and hung out with the Willets, sometimes by themselves too. A Marbled Godwit was found in the group of Willets on the beach by Jennifer A later on. The bird may have just joined the group on one of the flushes. All the birds were flushed many times while I was there but by pedestrians not knowing what was going on, it was all innocent. Weather was not great as there was a mist coming down for at least the first hour I was there. On and off it was very cold out there on the island park. Stunning birds regardless! It was a fun time with friend birders and photographers that showed while I was there. Images were taken on May 1, 2019.

The American Avocet, male

Flying free…

A group of them…they hung tight all day…

The American Avocets returning to the beach area…

Marbled Godwit left, Willet right

Willets coming to the beach with the Marbled Godwit standing out…

Willets coming in…

Willet

Willets with the Marbled Godwit in the middle…

Willets coming in…

Marbled Godwit preening

American Avocets in flight coming in…

Willets coming in…

American Avocets, a pair, could be a female left, male right…

Willets landing at the beach…

American Avocets landing at the beach…

Willet and Marbled Godwit left to right…

Marbled Godwit in front with the Willets

The Marbled Godwit

Huddled out in the lagoon…all 14 of them…

Willet playing with a crayfish claw that a gull left after eating the crayfish…

Marbled Godwit with something in the bill to eat…

Willet with something in the bill to eat too…

Willets in coming…

Marbled Godwith surrounded by Willets but feeling at home…