Subject: I'm puzzled!!!!!!!
Date: Oct 10 10:06:25 2000
From: Robert Sundstrom - ixoreus at home.com


Gerald/tweeters,

I see a trickle of winter or juvenile plumage Red Knots in mid-October
nearly every year, at such places as Ediz Hook or the Dungeness waterfront,
often with Black-bellied Plovers.

Bob Sundstrom
ixoreus at home.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerald Hamilton" <gerald at e-z.net>
To: "Wash. Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2000 7:01 PM
Subject: I'm puzzled!!!!!!!


> .................Among all the Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, West.
> Sandpipers, and Sanderlings on the ocean beach north of Oysterville
> Rd--Long Beach Pen, Wash. Sat. aft. were 3 grayish(white underneath)
> shorebirds, the same size as the Black-bellied Plovers, with slightly
> longer bills than the Plovers. Feet darlish, and neck slightly more
> slender. I first thought of Willets, but they lacked the longer legs,
> and were not the bigger size. What I saw more closely fit the
> descriptions of winter plumaged Red Knots. If indeed they were Red
> Knots, would they be seen this late in migration season? When in fall do
> they usually migrate?? Tried to relocate these same shorebirds after
> they moved but was unsucessful.
> ...............Also saw what appeared to be greyish-brown 2 Long-billed
> Dowitchers with the flocks also. Long straight bills and smaller sizes
> seem to eliminate Godwits. Clouds and the growing darkness, along with
> the short viewing time I had before they departed made for more
> questions than answers. If they were Long-bill's, this would seem to be
> a highly unusual place to see them.
> ................The more I bird, the more I discover how* little* I
> actually *do* know about birds. This can humble one very quickly, but
> also intrigue one and spark his curiosity even further to seek more
> knowledge on a subject one can't possibly know everything.
> .....Sigh!!! (-: Many are the times I leave with "more questions than
> answers"!!!
>
> Gerald Hamilton
> Brush Prairie, Wash.
> gerald at e-z.net
>