There are indeed BRRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEWS at the South Jetty of
the Columbia River-- at least two, more probably 3.

I received a call from Harry Nehls at 1710hr (corrected time),
put the bird onto the internet and telephone tree then zipped out
the SJCR arriving at 1740hr. The birds had just been flushed
away by unruly tourists. Harry had seen them fly south toward
Clatsop Beach. We walked the beach nearly to the parking lot B
access and relocated the two birds Harry had originally reported.

We watched them for about 10 minutes before they flew over the
dunes toward Trestle Bay ("ker-whet, ker-whet" they said upon
departing).

When we got back to parking lot C we discovered a single curlew
on the shorebird flats. This bird appeared to be a bit larger
and paler and more brightly marked. We believe it to be another
bird. It was still on the flats when I left at 1900hr.

Both Harry and I took plenty of pictures.

Complete descriptive details will follow.


--

Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR _Birds and other Wildlife of the
mpatters at orednet.org Columbia River Estuary_
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/book_ad.html