Hi Everyone,
I was lucky enough to be within immediate striking distance when I received calls from Stan Arnold and Ed Carlson about their amazing find. I left the house, camera in hand, in less than a minute. With poor cell phone reception at home, I had to call en route to confirm that they'd in fact said "Long-billed Curlew". "You meant Curlew Sandpiper, right??" "NO???" I arrived around 6:40 p.m., and Stan and Ed had the bird waiting in the scope. I had armed myself to deal with this shocking impossibility with firm objectivity. I thought to myself, "It has to be a Whimbrel. Make it a Whimbrel." But within moments, between the enormous bill and the warm, unstreaked lowerparts, I quickly began to believe. Hurrying me along, it stretched its wings to reveal cinnamon underwing linings, then emitted its first of several 'cur-lee' vocalizations. (Insert mumbled expressions of disbelief.)
We were soon joined by Dan Haas and excitedly continued documenting the bird. I have to offer a huge thanks to Ed for grabbing camera gear for me while I waited for additional documentation opportunities in the drizzling rain. Suddenly the bird called again and began to fly off. It circled the north cell and began flying south, then turned back to the north. It seemed certain to depart, but then dropped again in the north cell just as Rob Ostrowski arrived. The bird was now well-camouflaged in the similarly colored dirt, but easily enjoyed via telescope. After extended viewing, the bird again took flight, but this time it flew east over the Patapsco River and we lost it as it flew north over the Key Bridge. Mike Ostrowski missed the bird by about 10 minutes and John Hubbell arrived about 20 minutes later. I hope the bird decides to return and refuel a bit more before continuing on its way. This is a rather ideal stopover and roost site for the species in
this part of the state.
Also present were two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERs, two DUNLIN (Stan and Ed had 5 or 6 earlier), three SEMIPALMATED PLOVERs, 15 or more SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERs, as well as Least and Spotted Sandpipers. This is a great haul for Anne Arundel Co. shorebirds, so at least a consolation was provided.
Here are a few photos:
http://www.billhubick.com/photos/updates/20110522.php
No doubt others will be interested in trying tomorrow a.m. Stan, Ed, or Matt Grey, can you post some details about access tomorrow morning? Of course anyone who meets with success should post right away!
I returned home with chocolate cake and ice cream as a bribe for my patient and open-minded wife.
Stan and Ed, congratulations on a truly epic find! Amazing! I look forward to fulfilling the microbrew debt for a state bird I never expected to see. Many thanks!
Good birding,
Bill
Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland
http://www.billhubick.com
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