While we still have a lot of summer to go, the southbound shorebird migration has begun. This adult Least Sandpiper was working the Columbia River shoreline at Broughton Beach.
Most of the birds that migrate early in the season are adults, but I found one juvenile Least Sandpiper mixed in with the flock. Note the brighter colors typical of young birds.
A small flock of Semipalmated Plovers shared the river beach with the Least Sandpipers. It is always a treat to see the Semipalms still in breeding plumage.
So handsome
I don’t really count Killdeer as migrants, since you can usually find some around all year, but they are lovely birds.
Numbers and species diversity should pick up a lot in the next few weeks.
Happy Autumn (in summer)
Ethical Birder 