CURLEW SANDPIPER - Stratford, CT

Frank Mantlik struck again yesterday by finding a bright adult CURLEW SANDPIPER in a small golf course pond along the Stratford, CT coast. This was the first chaseable Curlew Sand in the state in over 20 years, thus unblocking this species for an entire generation of birders. Out of town and unable to partake in the twitch, I was hoping the bird would stick another day. This morning's negative reports were discouraging. The only reasonable play was to wait for the afternoon high tide and hit the local roosts.

I started on the rising tide at Milford Point, where some 150 birds came to roost but could not settle thanks to foot traffic. Even with more tide to come, this felt like a lost cause, so I drove across the estuary to Stratford Point. The roost here held ~500 birds, and the Curlew Sand was smack in the middle. Better late than never! Thanks, Frank!


(click image for higher res viewing)

 - NB

Comments

  1. Chris WooodJuly 20, 2022 at 11:29 AM

    Nice, Nick

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 20, 2022 at 3:25 PM

    Wonderful capture of a great bird.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 20, 2022 at 4:56 PM

    I got the bird this morning at Stratford Point about 8am ,Nick.
    Thanks for finding it ,Frank.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 20, 2022 at 10:07 PM

    absolutely beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJuly 21, 2022 at 9:57 AM

    Nick, as always, thank you for posting curlew sandpiper. Would you mind IDing surrounding flock in post?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nick BonomoJuly 27, 2022 at 1:51 PM

      Those are all Semipalmated Sandpipers. Adults coming out of breeding plumage.

      Delete

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