R.S.Brown Bristle-thighed Curlew 1768 Michigan Island 19 Oct. Made a count of 85 from 1530 to 1730 today in a fairly accurate count. Due I missed a few in the central part of the island. Tried banding this species at night and in an earlier tour of the island (all parts) I encountered only four. I believe the big problem is that there are so many giddamn terns of all species in every part of the island posting that as they flush up screaming, the shorebirds also take flight and in the mess they are not even seen. There was no moon, but fairly bright other light. All four encountered were done so in areas where no terns were screaming off first. The curlews are fairly rarely cryptic with the land but if not disturbed first by other birds. No sightings not of any gull by other birds. A lot of Petty Tern eggs, looks as if the curlews may have eaten them. Quantare marks in the shell. Also I have seen many eggs from smashed nests, especially to outlying Brown & Red-footed Terns. Start 17 eggs of Grey-backed Tern just N of the large walls were all eaten or further sites mostly with one or more made holes ca. 1/4" wide such as a Curlew might make. All destroyed eggs were in one small area. R.S.Brown 1768 Golden Plover 18 Michigan Island 14 Oct. While sleeping on the beach, I woke up about 0300 with the high tide coming in. Day at was only a few feet away from the high tide line and a Golden Plover came following along only about 2 feet from the est. As each wave rolled up it would run along and pick up some small pod item, as the water I each were receded. Feeding such like a small peep sandpiper. The beach was fairly well illuminated by starlight, no moon. I flushed the bird away on him and he ran off up the beach. Didn't know these plovers had at night, but then again, can't remember ever seeing them feed in the daytime. 230t Plovers observed feeding intently on the long green smooth (not hairy) caterpillars which have become very numerous on the vegetation since the last couple of good rains. These caterpillars are about 1/4" long at largest size and are fairly abundant everywhere. Plovers stalk along picking them off and swallow them with a few quick flicks first perhaps to stun or kill them. And are feeding in as loykins.