Subject: THE CHASE for the CURLEW SANDPIPER:(long)
Date: Aug 15 12:52:10 2000
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweeters,
It seems that only three birders saw the Curlew Sandpiper,even so he stayed
7 days what is a long record for this species.I like to take the opportunity
to share my experince how i encountered this bird.
We this got back from a long trip of birding from Ocean Shores, Tokland and
Brady Loop Rd.with a high count of 22 species of Shorebirds.The message got
sent by Harry Nehls of Oregon Saturday night at 7.43PM when he reported a
breeding plumage CURLEW SANDPIPER on the Long Beach Peninsula with access
from the North beach in Oysterville.At this time i was not sure i would
attemt this long trip alone after such long day of birding on Saturday.My
son Patrick said: IF YOU WANT TO GO,GO TOMORROW, this bird more likely will
not stay around to long.But Sunday morning i was rested up enough that i
feld i should go.I got a late start ( 8.00AM) arrieving in Oysterville at
11.30AM.As i walked the beach going north there where so many Sanderlings in
different plumages i ever saw before.This is the beach for the Sanderlings.I
must go high as 5000 during my walk around 4 miles with also 50 Ruddy
Turnstones.I concentraded more less where the Sanderlings where feeding
checking every group carefull out,little know than what the Curlew Sandpiper
prefers, not close to the water,but more on the sandy beach.After 5 hours
walking with my scope plus heavy Camera equippment
i was so tired out.I felt also strange that i was the only birder there the
whole time.This alone was so strange and than that low feeling of
defeat.Every birder at one time been there, and where was all the birders
what would make this search much easier.The drive seem twice as long going
home.
Calling Herry Nehls comming home and find out more details where Don Taylor
saw this bird queston his birding experience ,i felt comfortable to go back
on Tuesday to find this CURLEW SANDPIPER.This time i was more prepared ,also
not taking my scope helped a lot walking the beach.Again there where many
many Sanderlings with one Surfbird on a beach?The weather was not the best
and fog start comming in arond 2.00 PM what was making it realy hard to look
long ways ahead..
It was not to 2.45 PM when i walked on to a group of roosting Sanderlings on
the sandy beach resting up from all the running there was doing all day.But
in the middle ,i was in chock there was right in front "THE CURLEW
SANDPIPER." He looked so large and the bill was so long close up that it
felt enreal to stand so close,also this bird looking from the front only
bright red.I released my backpack,kneeled down to get my camera out.As i
lifted up i could not believe my eyes: THERE WAS NO MORE BIRDS ANYWHERE
AROUND.I also saw no birds flying to either side of the beach I stood there
verry stunt and helpless not getting least a photo and proof i found this
bird back.I also felt i had a delusion what can happen one can get from
exhaustion.I than decided i will stay overnight sleeping in my car.
Wednesday morning after a rough night getting verry little sleep,i started
out at 6.30 AM.since it take some time to go where this bird bee sighted
twice around 3 iles clost to the big tree on the beach and the big poles
saying there is no more driving further and no Clam digging.The weather
turned bad overnight ,with heavy drizzle and cloudy overcast.
I was walking with my camera in my hands ready to shoot.I could walked 2
miles when i spotted one larger bird on the beach going for the ealgrass in
middle of beach,Alook in my Binoculars confirmed i spotted the" CURLEW
SANDPIPER" I was ready now to persue witout getting to close.It was not easy
taking photos since i had to wipe the lense steady from the rain..Here is
what i observed follow and persue this bird for three hours.
He was going north running real fast (as also the Sanderlings)stopping
feeding on the ealgrass and walking again fast.I hardly could keep up with
this bird ,sometime flying ahead where i have to go faster in order not to
loose.I noticed he was the same size as the Ruddy Turnstones who he was
sometime with,but basicly he was alone going all the time feeding and
running.I noticed also that this bird is proable a female since he got some
white in the chestnut on the breast, the rump is almost all white with dark
spots.This plumage is in "Peters Haymans Shorebirds" Plate 205b Adult
female in breeding,only this bird is going out of breeding sice the whole
rump i already white and only the chestnut goes deep to the breast.This bird
never going close to the waterside,rather on the sandy beach.So i could
walked right by this bird on Sunday,looking manly looking at all the
Sanderlings.
I was learning realy something about this bird,so when Patrick on friday was
ready to go so far out and away from the ealgrass,when i told him i will go
back where i and David saw this bird.And sure enough while i sitting on
driftwood resting ,Patrick spotted the Curlew Sanpiper again on friday in
the company with a Ruddy Turnsone.When he yelled I GOT THE BIRD I GOT THE
BIRD!!!!!!!!! I grabed my camera seeing a women approaching us with a large
dog all what i saw two birds flying of the Ruddy Turnstone further down the
beach and the Long