Songbird migration is in full swing, but big shorebirds were my highlights today 

at the Buck Creek State Park beach near Springfield.  There were 6 Willets and 3 

Marbled Godwits sitting near the south end of the beach this afternoon.  I saw 
them first around 1:30- 2:00. 
The lake is about 16 inches above summer level instead of 16 feet+  like at 
Caesar Creek and East Fork so thankfully there is still plenty of sand showing.

 The mega-pipers were associating with Common Terns and a Forster's Tern that 
were also sitting on the beach.  The terns moved around more so were harder to 
count, but the most I saw at one time were 17 Common Terns and the 1 Forster's.  

The willets and godwits flushed with the terns and flew out over the lake before 

circling back and landing near where they started.  Not only did that give great 

looks at the willets' flashy wing stripes, but also the godwits' beautiful 
orangy wing linings. As they flew back the willets were making their 
"pill-will-willet" sounds- very cool.
Larry Jeanblanc came about 2:15 and took some photographs.  I may be able to 
post some shots for him later.
These birds were still present at 4:20 p.m.when I was leaving to go home.

Brian Menker
Dayton/Springfield

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