Subject: Re: RFI early Jan.
Date: Dec 27 11:08:26 1996
From: "Scott Richardson" - salix at halcyon.com


> From: Lois Schultz <lois at acpub.duke.edu>
> Rock Sandpiper
> This is a jinx bird for us and, as far as we know, strictly mythical.
> They should be regular at Ocean Shores/Westport.
> Question: given that we may have VERY limited birding time, is the
> jetty at Ocean Shores or at Westport the better bet?

This bird jinxes many observers; you're not the only person I've heard
describe Rock Sandpipers as mythical.
On the Grays Harbor CBC, my section included the north jetty (Ocean
Shores). During my first check, waves were crashing over the "base" of the
jetty, so I didn't approach it. Luck was with me though, because the heavy
seas forced the "rock" shorebirds onto the sand. It was one of my best
rock-shorebirding days ever, with 23 Black Turnstones, 10 Surfbirds, and 3
Rock Sandpipers roosting in plain view about 30 feet away.
When our group returned in the afternoon, the seas has subsided somewhat,
and we detected just 2 Rock Sandpipers on the rocks, only occasionally
visible.
So my recommendation is to visit the north jetty during a big windstorm (or
tsunami) and let the mythical 'pipers come to you!
--
Scott Richardson
NE Seattle
salix at halcyon.com