Noteworthy records of Charadriiformes on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Noteworthy records of Charadriiformes on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We report on records of charadriform species not previously known or considered rare on the northern coast (29 degrees 21' S, 49 degrees 44' W; 30 degrees 18' S, 50 degrees 15' W) of the state of Rio Grande do Sul in south Brazil. Although long considered scarce in the state, Semipalmeted Plover Charadrius semipalmatus occurred year-round in 2010, being abundant (up to 680 individuals) during spring-summer. Baird's Sandpiper C. bairdii, a species known in Brazil from a handful, was observed 11 times in 2010, especially in September-November. The other species recorded were: Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla, Phalaropus tricolor and Least Tern Sternula antillarum.