ML639260193

Detalles de la observación

Smallish gray shorebird, impressive in full alternate plumage. Unmistakable, with orange legs, long upturned bill, whitish underparts, and gray upperparts with blackish scapulars. Initially seen in flight, when it recalled a Common Sandpiper but with a broad white trailing edge to the bill and a much longer bill. Distinctive behavior, foraging very actively and tail-bobbing nonstop. Photographed and video'd extensively at close range, media tba. Rare, first July record for the Aleutians in eBird! Ross was showing me a boxing glove he'd salvaged from the surf when we found the bird. He tossed the glove up onto the high part of the beach for safekeeping as we discussed checking Tattler Creek. That was fortuitous: throwing the glove scared a shorebird from the wood that we had not noticed. I called "Common - no - Terek? Terek Sandpiper!" and Ross got on it in flight to nab photos. He stayed on the bird while I ran back to the cabin to fetch Shiho. She was gone before I'd gotten out of my boots, running back to the beach. They got great looks at the mouth of Tattler Creek before the bird flushed upstream and out of sight. When I caught up, we all moved up into the stream. We refound the bird with a Gray-tailed Tattler. Eventually, the Terek worked its way back to the mouth of the stream. We spent the next hour enjoying the bird from our bellies. Overjoyed, we finally left once the bird had foraged its way out of the stream and back into the wood high on the beach.