#ABArare - Little Stint (and Bar-tailed Godwit) - Massachusetts

The shorebird parade continues here at #ABArare: A Little Stint (Code 4) was found at the southern end of South Beach in Chatham, MA by Blair Nikula on July 21. He and others saw it again on July 22.

Little Stint (on left) with Semipalmated Sandpipers in bottom photo. Note differences in plumage and bill shape. Photos by Blair Nikula.

Chatham is located in the southeast corner of Cape Cod, 13 miles east of Yarmouth and about 90 miles from Boston. Mapquest reports the driving time from Boston as being a little under 2 hours, though I suspect it's longer in the summer, particularly on weekends, due to beach traffic. Access to South Beach is a little difficult. To get to it, one must walk about 8-10 miles roundtrip from Chatham, take a ferry, or bring a canoe or kayak. If you're planning a visit, I highly recommend checking out Blair Nikula's website about birding the beach, particularly the page about access.

A Bar-tailed Godwit has also been at this location since June 21, and it may be the same bird that was seen on Tuckernuck Island near Nantucket June 6-9. It was present on July 21 but not seen on July 22, though kite boarders were repeatedly flushing shorebirds in the area where it has usually been seen. Bar-tailed Godwit is Code 2 due to the Alaska breeding population, but it's much rarer in the Lower 48 and Canada, particularly away from the West Coast. This individual is of the nominate race, Limosa l. lapponica, which breeds in Europe.

photo by Blair Nikula