Subject: CURLEW SANDPIPER TUES.+WED.
Date: Aug 9 15:52:11 2000
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweeters,
I am so exited to find this CURLEW SANDPIPER on both days i stayed in
Oysterville.
Tuesday i walked about 10 miles all together.The weather was drizzle and
fog.At 2.45 PM
i walked almost on this bird.He was standing amongst 14 Sanderlings.Getting
my backpack of, reaching down for the camera,looking up, the birds was
going.I searched for three hours and could not find the Curlew Sandpiper
back.
This morning again heavy drizzle and fog.I started walking on the beach at
7.00AM Since i noticed from the day before,this bird stays more on the sandy
site ,i was heavy concentrate on the upper beach.Three miles i walked to i
spotted one bird feeding on the ealgrass,he runs like a Sanderling real
fast, stop and feed,and runs again.He also walks out to the ocean,but not
where the water is.He was in company with Ruddy Turnstones,but mostly alone
feeding constantly.I walked with this bird going still north maybe onother
two miles to get photos.The Curlew Sandpiper is going out of the completly
breeding plumage the head to the breast is still strikingly chestnut red
,but on the rump -patch is turning white.
I been seeing this bird in Iona in winter plumage,there are no comparison
how basicly easier is to identify this bird in breeding plumage.There is no
photos sighted in our "Wahington birds" many records but no photo and there
are many sighting not confirmed.
Now i hope we get onother RARE BIRD as maybe the Mongolian Plover?

Ruth Sullivan
Tacoma
godwit at worldnet.att.net