..................Went today, Sunday, 99 miles to see the
Bristle-thighed Curlews at Astoria--South Jetty. Was not dissappointed.
Came at noon to see groups of birders eying 2 BTCs at the pond area just
north of parking lot. With them at same pond were 2 Whimbrels, which was
great for comparison purposes. About an hour or so later one Curlew flew
away, but the other hung around at least till I left later in the aft.
He was seen either cracking crabs by the jetty, or wandering the grassy
area just east of the pond.
..................As if 1 'lifer' was not enough, I saw a 2nd
'lifer'....a Red Knot. It was with a summer plummage Black-bellied
Plover. I have been trying for several years to be at the right place
and time to see a Red Knot, and here it was!!!!!!!
..................Also say several flocks of Brant heading north., a
summer-plummaged Dunlin,a flock of the same, some more common 'peeps',
and what may have been a Parastic Jaeger,though we could'nt positively
identify this winging bird(one was reported in the same location several
days ago, so it may have been this same bird).
..................We were able to get quite close to the Curlews,
Red-Knot, Plover, and Whimbrels. Though it showered heavily all the way
to the coast, the sun came out and made for a beautiful aft. Many thanks
to all the birders I met and conversed with. That, and seeing 2 'lifers'
in the few hours I was there made for one unexpectedly wonderful
afternoon for me!!!!!!!! Simply fantastic......

...........Since this got a little longer than originally planned,
report on Grass Lake, Calif, Tule Lake, etc. will be another day!!! It
was not 'how many' I saw, but 'what and who' I saw that leaves such
fabulous memories. Birders are such wonderful people!!!!!

...........Have a good day, ya' all!!!!!!!!

Gerald Hamilton
Brush Prairie, Wash.
gerald at e-z.net