R. Clapp - 1964 
Nov. 15 Makin Atoll; . Gilbert Islands. 
* 
• " * . I » • 1 
In to Butaritari Island by 8:30 to riqk up 
Lehner and Wislocki who stayed overnight* 
We then moved down to some sand flats along 
the lagoon* These flats were extensive and 
were about 1-3 mile \^ide and oerhaps three ? 
miles long* At low tide there was much coarse 
sand interspersed with low pools. Some sort 
of grass was much in evidence in the deener water. 
There were large numbers of shorebirds.. 
present. While I got nothing resembling an 
accurate estimate I susoect that the stretch we 
worked contained not less • than- 200 Golden Plover 
and 200 Puddy Turnstone with Wandering Tattler 
more numerous than either species* (Although 
these figures may well be low.) There were 
many Godwits (more than 40 seen I should guess) - 
and two species of Curlew* Bristle-thighed and 
the ^himbrel. Of the two curlew* M .more of. 'the 
individuals that I saw were Bristle-thighed 
than were Whimbrel. 
Peef Herons were more abundant here than 
any other place we visited on this trip. I saw 
(counted) 30 plus in one sweep of my binoculars 
along the lagoon shore. These birds seemed 
to prefer the edge of the sand flats bordering 
the lagoon where the water pools were deeper 
probably because of the number of fish in these 
small pools'* There Was an almost exact 50-50 
ratio between white and dark phase birds* and 
strangely enough I noted no particularly mottled 
individuals. Most of the dark phase birds were 
very dark, appearing almost black at a distance 
but cme individual seen was grayish brown,' 
whether *due to basic difference in plumage or 
to age and feather wear I do not know* % / • 
Some 15 Hawiian Noddies were seen, ‘as were 
a few Fairy Tern, Common Noddy, and Crested 
Tern, one of which was roosting on the edge ■ • 
of the lagoon. _ v , - 
The birds were very jumpy and as a group we 
had relatively poor results* Binion shot 
a Bristle-thighed Curlew, Larry shot a- Curlew 
. • • » «« ii* 
4 
♦ t 
