Northview Diary: Where’s the Mud

Least Sandpiper

 It might seem counterintuitive, but in this summer of constant rain there is no mud to be found here or in nearby counties. Ponds, lakes and rivers are bank-full right up to the surrounding vegetation leaving no room for mud.

Meanwhile, although you might not be seeing them, shorebirds are migrating through in great numbers. Without nice icky mud flats to lure them down to dine they are downright hard to find.

However, last week when the canal authorities….very wisely…drew the river down to winter levels to make room for Debby’s copious tears, acres and acres of luscious river bottom mud were exposed.

Acres of lovely, lovely mud

It was a birder’s playground. Ralph and I made eager use of it. We went to the boat launch at least once a day and often twice to look for peeps and pipers. It was a delight to walk the western shore of the Schoharie right out to the confluence with the Mohawk peering happily at the mud.

i saw Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, Solitary Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Great Egrets, Green Herons, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles hunting them all, and a single Laughing Gull. (Many thanks to David Harrison for finding it, texting me, and letting me peer through his scope for a quick glimpse before it waddled out of view).

Great Egret displaying the watches he has for sale

It was amazing to say the least! 

However, not surprisingly, when we went down yesterday afternoon the river was filled almost to its normal summer level. There were a few assorted peeps left, but they were nervous and looked like heading out.

Belted Kingfisher

Solitary Sandpipers

Thus the fun is over until well into the fall when the dams will be opened for winter and the mud revealed again. There will probably still be a few migrants passing though at that time and I will walk the river bed in eager anticipation, but I don’t expect anything like this past week’s fun and games.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

And thus, I ask you local folks who may see places that I haven’t found yet…..

She’s filling up fast

Where’s the mud? I need another shorebird fix!

And thanks in advance!

Semipalmated Plover