The adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is at Crockett Lake. The bird was
seen today (Monday, June 3) from approx. 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. by myself,
Larry McCloskey, Jerry Wasmer, and Toby "somebody" from Seattle
(sorry Toby for not remembering your last name; please forgive me!).

The bird was first seen on the far shore near an old beat-up "duck
blind" about 3/4 of the way down the lake from the ferry terminal.
The bird was at first too far away to make any sort of positive
identification, except to note that it was about 75% the size of a
killdeer, and it appeared to have some type of "collar". One of us
(who will remain nameless) was foolish enough to wade out through
knee deep muck (filled with exotic and wonderful biota) to get a
closer look. This closer look revealed yellowish legs, a distinct
white supercilium which broadened behind the eye, a fairly bright
rufous cap, a bill which appeared shorter than a Pectoral's, feathers
on the upper body which were edged with rufous, and an indistinct
border between the darker breast and the belly. Cool.

Good luck finding it. Bring some sort of foot wear which provides a
great surface area for walking across knee deep muck. Maybe
snowshoes?


**********************************************
* Jim Nestler *
* Walla Walla College Marine Station *
* 174 Rosario Beach *
* Anacortes, WA 98221 *
* 360-293-2326 (phone and fax) *
* nestja at wwc.edu *
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