Clatsop County
On my loop walk around the perimeter of the south spit of the Necanicum
Estuary in Seaside today I was surprised to encounter a single BAIRD'S
SANDPIPER in the high wrack line. The bird was sitar and waiting out the
high tide period snoozing in some tangles if dead beachgrass and other
flotsam. It settled down again quickly after getting up when I first
spotted it. I sat down too and watched it for quite some time until a large
off-leash dog came by and spooked it into flight after chasing it. It
joined a couple dozen Western Sandpipers on the north spit then. I managed
some voucher shots through my binocular with my Samsung S9 phone camera.
The bird had new looking flight feathers, but very worn coverts. I need to
do some research on molt, but I suspect it was a Baird's in its second
year. Baird's are quite rare in spring migration along the Oregon Coast.
Later I observed a RED-NECKED GREBE in breeding plumage as it swam and dove
in the channel of the Necanicum River at 5th Street.
No noticeable shorebird movements today.
My list with photos:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S86522340
David C. Bailey
Seaside, Oregon
