Bristle-thighed Curlew 22 May 2006

22 May 2006 Sunset Beach, Clatsop County Oregon

Eva and her dad were on drive to survey the birds on the beach north of Gearhart this afternoon when David spotted this bird. He immediately recognized it as a Bristle-thighed Curlew (as different from the common Whimbrel) due to the neck streaking that stopped abruptly at the pectoral region, the large creamy spots on the upperparts, and the overall warm cast to the plumage. In better light than when the photos were taken the tail appeared orange-red, the flanks pinkish buff, and the rump cinnamon-buff. The curlew even obliged by calling several times: a distinctive wolf whistle pee-ooo-weeep with the "oo" drawn out. The Bristle-thighed Curlew is one of the rarest breeding birds in North America (and the world). These Polynesian birds usually fly from their island homes directly across the ocean not making landfall until they reach their Alaskan breeding grounds. Occassionally a strong storm system may interrupt their flight causing them to fly west and make landfall further south. I presume that this is what happened with this individual. There is a large low pressure system centered off of the Washington Coast that has been in place for at least the last 12 hours which may have been inpassable. The bird has a full crop as can be seen in one of the photographs. There are abundant mole crabs on the N. Coast beaches currently and I imagine that the curlew may have been gorging one these. The Whimbrel sharin the same beach certainly are. Oh, the "bristles" on the thighs are very difficult to see and may not show up in the photographs. These are narrow feather that wisp down over the tibiataursus (upper leg) of the birds (unlike the Whimbrel). I saw them in the field.

I think a name that could have been equally as appropriate to this species would have been Polka Dot Curlew after the large rounded creamy spots on the upperparts that help to distinguish them form other Curlews.

A few more pictures of the birthday girl

Naptime after her first birthday party--it was a long nap after all that excitement.







Later that day....





And on the day of her birthday her dad hung the swing we got from Sarah and Kari and Eva tried it out. What fun!

The day of Eva's actual 1st birthday, May 8 (Mon)

Eva spent some time in the yard exploring. She picked up a pine cone. Later in the day and after dinner, we sang Happy Birthday to her and she devoured a frosted cupcake--Her first tastes of sugar!

First birthday party at Ecola State Park 7 May

A picture from the morning before the part and two from the party.

Getting into the kitchen drawers--literally!

Hmm, there is a drawer up here I have never before gotten too. What all is inside? Watch me spread the things across the floor for a full visual inspection.