ML81549391

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Originally found by Matt Hysell and Cathy Carroll (see her description below) and later Tex Wells. At 1530 Hrs. I was able to see the Curlew Sandpiper in Cell 2 of Pt. Mouillee SGA this afternoon at 3:30pm with the help of master bird spotter Alex Dopp (thanks, Alex!). Skies were overcast, the cell just about dry, windy, and the Curlew Sandpiper far out on the other side of the mudflats. Bottom line? - lousy digiscoping conditions. I made an attempt, anyways, and have the following to offer (no Arthur Morris am I, but they're better than the pictures of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker...tic). The best portrait shots I could get: Just before takeoff - note the white wingstripe, decurved bill, black legs, and white rump Size of the bird relative to Lesser Yellowlegs and Short-billed Dowitcher and Least Sandpipers Rob Epstein and Darlene Friedman showed up shortly after Alex left, but we were unable to find the Curlew Sandpiper for the next hour or so. Even the great Tim Smart was no help. But Darlene was finally successful finding the bird among numerous Lesser Yellowlegs and Dowitchers and we were able to see it in flight several times as trucks rumbled by and birds spooked each other. The added bonus was (4) King Rails on the opposite bank - 2 adults and 2 fledgelings. And, as Bruce Bowman reported earlier today, the cell is about 90-95% dry. Unless we see rain in the next day or so, all of the birds may leave.

Technical information

Dimensions

800 pixels x 539 pixels

Original file size

262.77 KB