Dick,
For one reason or another Long-billed Curlew has become an
"expected" species the last couple of years at Shell Key/Fort DeSoto,
Honeymoon Island and Three Rooker Bar in Pinellas. Though I mean by
"expected" as only one or two at each place at best, it is still an
improvement over the late 80's and early 90's when the species was few and
far between in our area. Why the change? I couldn't say, but we're
certainly enjoying the view.
Also, in the last 1-2 years, Long-billed Curlew has been recorded in
all 12 months on Shell Key. The same bird? Probably, but we'll still take
it.
Ron Smith
St. Pete, FL
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Dick Beeler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 9:08 PM
Subject: [FLORIDABIRDS-L] Long Billed Curlew Ft. Desosto Beach 11/9
> Being a transplanted New Yorker, I'm not sure if this will be anywhere as
> interesting to you old Florida hands as it was exciting to me, but while
> scoping out "All of the Usual Suspects" at North Beach on Fort Desoto
Beach
> yesterday afternoon I almost skipped by a "Whimbrel" (There were 4 others
as
> well as a slew of Marble Godwits) when I remembered that the bird I had
just
> seen HAD NO STRIPES ON ITS HEAD. A quick look back also showed me a pair
of
> pale blue-grey legs and a HUGE evenly down turned bill with a definite
> pinkish tone to the base of the lower mandible. For me it was a Florida
1st
> and life time 2nd. My earlier views had been at a much less satisfying
> longer distance in Central Oklahoma a few years ago. How often do they
> wander east? NGS says "rare" visitor to East Coast by rare has a lot of
> different meanings to different birders.
>
> Sorry to be a day late in posting but I have been away from the machine
for
> two days.
>
> Dick Beeler
> Cape Coral, FL
>
