Posted by Rock Jetty on April 11, 2004 at 17:18:15:
On Easter Sunday, April 11th 2004, Albert "Snail Kite" Gonzalez and myself arrived at STA-5 around 10:30 AM to look for our old Eurasian friend(s). We met a birder from NC, Greg (didn't get his last name) who, like Albert, needed the Ruff for a lifer. There were THOUSANDS of shorebirds (more than last week when Charlie Ewell, Doug Suitor and I saw the Ruff for the first time) and Greg was glad two extra pairs of eyes were there to help him out. After about an hour and a half of looking through "ruffed-up" yellowlegs that sent us running like madmen, I finally located one Ruff southeast of the famous little dry bank they routinely fly onto to bathe and preen. It felt great to help those guys in getting their life-bird and to witness their excitement just as Charlie and Doug witnessed mine last week. Now if only I can spot a Greenshank among all those yellowlegs...
Cheers,
RJ