Long-billed Curlew, Seaside, OR

I guided a group of birders to the north coast this week. We saw a lot of good birds, but the rainy weather forced me to keep my camera in the car most of the time. The best surprise of the day was this bird, hanging out in the middle of the high school soccer field in Seaside. As we drove by, I thought we had a Marbled Godwit, but when got out to take a better look, we discovered he was a Long-billed Curlew. This is a common nesting species in southeastern Oregon, but is uncommon along the coast in migration.

This is a young bird, with fresh plumage and a bill that isn’t all that long for a Long-billed Curlew.

Here he is showing the cinnamon buff color under the wings, typical for this species.

I don’t know what he was finding to eat in the soccer field, but he seemed to be content there.