I'm not an expert, but I've been looking at birds long enough to recognize
oneI've never seen before. So here goes- I was on Rt 167 headed south at
about 11:45 this morning. About halfway between mileposts 16 and 17
there's a boggy looking pasture to the west of the highway. In the middle
of this pasture was a large long-necked black and white bird with long
skinny bright red legs. It was shaking out its wings so what I saw of
its body was a flash of white back with black wings. The red legs, however,
were absolutely unmistakable.

So I figured I'd check it out in the bird book when I get home. Sure enough,
the only thing resembling what I saw would be a Black-Necked Stilt, which
doesn't appear to hang out over here in Western Wash. I even checked my
dog-eared copy of Eugene Hunn's book- no sightings (at least none through
the early '80s).

I really don't feel comfortable saying that I saw a Black-Necked
Stilt.
Is there anyone out there who might want to take a look in the general
vicinity and check it out? Or who could point me to a different page in
my book?

Catherine Alexander,
Seattle
cma at vmresearch.org

--
Tony & Catherine
kittyroo at scn.org