---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Lois Giles" <loisgiles at comcast.net>
Date: Aug 4, 2012 8:06 PM
Subject: bird
To: "Steve" <sgiles at jumbofoods.com>

This morning between 8:30 and 9:30 I was able to observe a juvenile Curlew
Sandpiper several times in the ponds along Eide Road East of Stanwood. As I
walked into the area several small shorebirds flew away from me, one of
which was larger than the others and had a very white rump. At the time I
felt I had seen something unusual. Ruff went through my mind because of the
white rump. In a few minutes I was able to find the bird foraging in
shallow water-it gave me a front view only before a Merlin scattered the
flock. What registered with me before the falcon arrived was that I had
seen a medium size shorebird with a very plain throat and breast, prominent
white supercilia and some rufous in the crown. All I knew then was that it
was not a Ruff.****

The Merlin had successfully scattered the small shorebirds. The Dowitchers
and the Yellowlegs settled back down. During the next 30-45 minutes while I
sorted out these species-22 Long Billed Dowitchers-all adults, 17 Greater
Yellowlegs-4 adults, the rest juveniles, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs-both
juveniles-forays by Northern Harriers would disturb the birds and they
would take wing for several minutes and then settle back down.****

It was after one of these Harrier disturbances that the Curlew Sandpiper
re-appeared and I had long looks at it. It stayed close to the group
of Dowitchers and foraged in the same depth of water that they were in. But
it didn't act like a foraging Dowitcher-it picked at things on the surface
of the water. It didn't bury it's bill in the mud like a Dunlin or a Stilt
Sandpiper would have.****

I had scope views for five minutes or so. This shorebird was the size of a
Dunlin but looked elongated. The bill was Dunlin sized and decurved but the
body shape was thinner and longer. The wings extended beyond the tail tip.
The neck seemed longer. The supercilium was white and prominent. The back
had a scaly appearance with some of the scapular feathers edged with
rufous. The legs were black. ****

I felt I had watched this bird long enough that I was comfortable with my
ID so I decided to walk back to my car and get my camera-that took 10
minutes. The bird was still there when I returned and I was able to get
some pictures. ****

One last note. High tide is the best time to visit these ponds for
shorebirds and waterproof boots allow you to get close to the birds.****

Steve Giles****

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