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Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 10:55:10 -0400
From: Paul Lehman
To: NJ Birds Mailing list
Subject: Curlew Sandpiper, "Eurasian" Whimbrel
NJBirds:
The Curlew Sandpiper continues at Stone Harbor Point, Cape May County, as of Monday morning, July 30. The bird is usually seen between mid- and lowish tide in the small tidal channel/pool closest to the vegetation at the beginning of the spit. The bird can certainly be missed as well, however. On one occasion it was seen to fly from its "preferred" spot well to the south out onto one of the sandbar islands in Hereford Inlet, where it would be almost impossible to find (but it was back again the next day...). The bird is in partial alternate plumage. There are a good number of shorebirds here overall.
A "Eurasian" Whimbrel was reported by Charlie Ewell at the south side of the West Pool at Brigantine (Forsythe) NWR, loosely associated with regular Whimbrel, on Friday, 27 July. Unfortunately, Charlie last saw the bird flying off, way high and to the south, not looking as though it was coming back.... Brigantine has had huge numbers of shorebirds the past couple of weeks, with an estimated 20,000+ birds; the nw corner of the West Pool has been especially good, but there are basically birds everywhere.
There are also a good number of shorebirds (6000+) at the Bivalve impoundment in Cumberland County at all except full high tide. Nothing rare, however.
--Paul Lehman