Curlew redux!

Temp in the 40s, mostly overcast, winds southwest increasing to 10-20 mph, occasional drizzle.

We set out today with high expectations after yesterday’s windfall. However, it was not to be.

No new birds, but as we were driving south along the Seawall, Barb spotted the two Bar-tailed Godwits that had been on the Clam Lagoon mud flats. They were finally close enough for a photo.

Bar-tailed Godwits, Clam Lagoon Seawall, May 26, 2014.

We continued down towards Candlestick Bridge. A Tufted Duck was back with the scaup on Lake Shirley. Lake Ronnie just had a bunch of Red-breasted Mergansers and scaup.

On the way back up the Seawall, Barb spotted two large shorebirds flying into the escarpment. She exclaimed “godwits!” By the time I looked in that direction, the birds had disappeared. But suddenly, two birds took off from there and I quickly got on them. I exclaimed “curlews!” Then, as quickly they were joined by the godwits and they all flew onto the beach just up from us. I hopped out of the car in hopes of catching the curlews in flight for a nice diagnostic rump-and-tail shot. However, they were not concerned with me standing on top of the Seawall taking their picture and just continued casually walking and feeding along the beach. We waited about 20 minutes to no avail. But I did get some more nice photos, including one with much of the tail exposed.

Bristle-thighed Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit, Clam Lagoon Seawall, May 26, 2014.

Bristle-thighed Curlew showing the diagnostic rufous-barred tail, Clam Lagoon Seawall, May 26, 2014.

We continued around Clam Lagoon. We stopped at the west side flats overlook and I walked out the peninsula. The two Sanderlings were still there, but that was all.

While I was out there, a passing driver stopped and advised Barb that one of our tires was going flat! He graciously drove into town and notified our landlord (Elliot), who sent someone (Dustin) out to rescue us. After struggling with two jacks that didn’t want to work right, we finally managed to change the tire and move on.

While we were waiting for Dustin to arrive, a couple of pairs of Parasitic Jaegers were cavorting on the flats. One pair stayed long enough to be photographed.

Parasitic Jaegers, Clam Lagoon, May 26, 2014.

Three more days to go.