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Inland Shorbirding (a question)



Hi folks,

I've been wondering about this for the pst few weeks, as it's shorebird 
migration time. In Western Massachusetts, where I spent the last 10 years, 
we bird-heads scavenged the local fields, sod farms and riverine sand bars 
(Connecticut River) for the rather less common inland shorebirds (and 
potential places to find shorebirds during/after heavy rain storms). I 
remember seeing 16 species of sandpiper and plover in a sod farm adjacent 
the river, in one day just afer a heavy t-storm (a sod farm similar to the 
one west of the Rt. 1 bridge into GA) . While I HAVE seen posts regarding 
sod farm shorebirds in SC (none in southern SC), I have yet to see any 
regarding shorebirds on riverine bars. Is the Savannah River too 
fast-flowing for them to form? I hear tales of large bars down river from 
the SRS and I plan on floating that section w/canoe in 8 or so days. Any 
suggestions?

This type of birding is boom-or-bust. While you can spend a few days or 
weeks looking at the odd Least, Semi, or Soli. Sandpiper, you can also clean 
up if you hit it right (while building your county list) or better yet, add 
to county records with things like the odd tern, Buff-breasted or Bairds 
Sandpiper (etc).

I'd also be interested to know if there were a place of the following 
description in interior SC agricultural districts: One of the traditional 
places to look at shorebirds in interior MA is a 30X50 yard open manure pit 
at a local cattle farm. The farmers keep cows immediately adjacent to the 
rectangular pit and so keep it constantly filled. It's a bit stinky, but has 
provided many Bairds and White-rumpped sandpipers and is constantly playing 
host to 50 - 200 or so Leasts. Several plover species and many other 
sandpipers have been seen there every year.

Thanks in advance for any information.
Paul Champlin
Aiken, SC
capito@hotmail.com
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