[obol] Bandon Marsh NWR 10/21

[Russ Namitz]

Many CALIFORNIA GULLS were chasing shorebirds on the mudflats.  A gull would 
single out a shorebird, usually a SANDERLING or LEAST SANDPIPER, and chase 
it in the air.  I'm not sure if the gull was trying to catch and eat these 
smaller shorebirds or if it was exhibiting kleptoparasitism.  I did observe 
a clear case of kleptoparasitism where a CAGU chased a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 
and made the plover drop its polychete worm.

1  Great Blue Heron
1  Great Egret
1  Peregrine Falcon
1  Pacific Golden-Plover
1  American Golden-Plover
40+ Black-bellied Plover
1  Short-billed Dowitcher (heard only)
15 Long-billed Dowitcher
10 Black Turnstone
75+ Sanderling
50+ Western Sandpiper
75+ Least Sandpiper
500+ Dunlin
50 California Gull
20 Western Gull

The golden-plover were hangin out together.  The Pacific was very bright and 
could probably be scoped without walking out onto the mud.

Good birding,
Russ Namitz
Coos Bay