Along with a half dozen students in my Beginning Birds class, we saw at close range in Helen's Pond this afternoon a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, along with 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and roughly 20 dowitchers (also 5 Killdeer and Mallards and shovelers). We had excellent looks through my scope at the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper's buffy breast unevenly transitioning to a white belly, reddish crown, white eyebrow, and prominent eye ring. With dowitchers in the scope at the same time, we also had an excellent size comparison. Viewing time was approx 1:20-1:40, after which we left for other locations while the birds were still feeding. The tide was still incoming at nearby 3 Crabs.

A couple of students tried taking pictures, but inexperience led to some bad choices. It remains to be seen whether we have an image worth sharing.

I returned at 5 p.m., but all the shorebirds had left Helen's Pond. Nor were they at 3 Crabs, where the tide was high.

Dave Jackson