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Subject:

long-billed curlew sighting?

From:

"j. d. newman"

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Date:

Mon, 21 May 2007 10:17:45 -0700

I hesitate to post this, since I am a new subscriber.  However, I have been a birder for more than
40 years, and had no more than my usual 1 cup of coffee at the time of the sighting.

Today, Monday, May 21, approximatelyl 8:30 am.
I was driving s. on Rockville Pike (MD 355) about where Cedar Lane crosses.  I saw 2 large birds
flying slowly from the general vicinity of the Naval Hospital and passing to the e. of the Boy
Scout Building, and both crossed overhead in plain view.  Initially, I thought that the one in
front was a black-crowned night heron, but it passed out of view (trees obstructed) before I could
confirm.  The second one I saw more clearly; it was brown in color and had a long curved bill. 
It, too, passed out of sight but the only species that I can think of that fit what I saw is a
long-billed curlew, no matter how improbably that may seem.  I report this to alert other birders
in the general area.

John Newman