Turnstones, Red Knot

Among the birds roosting at high tide in early August at Matthew's Lake were several Ruddy Turnstones and a single Red Knot. The Knots usually occur in small numbers here during the summer shorebird migration and often into Autumn where they gradually moult into their grey Winter plumage. They are notable not only for their rusty red breeding attire but because numbers have declined precipitously in recent decades, as much as 50% at their wintering grounds in South America.