I was surprised to find a lone juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER foraging in tall grass a hundred feet above the sand at Ecola State Park on 26 September 2013. It was very patient and cooperative, staying put while I ran for my camera, then posing for me as I worked to close the distance between us. Amazingly it allowed me to approach within just a few yards. I was sweating in anticipation of my quarry possibly being a Short-billed Dowitcher as I watched it consume a spider. I'd recently noted Short-billed Dowitcher were known to eat spiders on occasion - oh well I am very glad to have had the opportunity enjoy a close encounter with this calidridine sandpiper.
The invertebrate being consumed is actually a crane fly rather than a spider as first reported:
Interactive Map - click the "A" below for directions to Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach Oregon
(1)
January (1)
(5)
February (5)
(5)
March (5)
(5)
April (5)
(2)
May (2)
(6)
June (6)
(3)
July (3)
(5)
August (5)
(5)
September (5)
(4)
October (4)
(5)
November (5)
(5)
December (5)
|
(1)
January (1)
(4)
February (4)
(1)
March (1)
(5)
April (5)
(2)
May (2)
(3)
June (3)
(4)
July (4)
(4)
August (4)
(3)
September (3)
(2)
October (2)
(2)
November (2)
(3)
December (3)
|
(1)
January (1)
(3)
February (3)
(2)
March (2)
(2)
April (2)
(3)
May (3)
(3)
June (3)
(3)
July (3)
(3)
August (3)
(2)
September (2)
(2)
October (2)
(2)
November (2)
December
|
(1)
January (1)
February
(2)
March (2)
(1)
April (1)
(4)
May (4)
(3)
June (3)
(3)
July (3)
(1)
August (1)
September
October
(1)
November (1)
December
|
(1)
January (1)
(1)
February (1)
March
April
(3)
May (3)
(3)
June (3)
(1)
July (1)
August
(1)
September (1)
October
November
December
|
January
February
(1)
March (1)
April
May
(1)
June (1)
(1)
July (1)
August
September
(1)
October (1)
(1)
November (1)
(1)
December (1)
|
January
February
March
April
(2)
May (2)
June
(1)
July (1)
August
September
October
(2)
November (2)
December
|
January
February
March
April
(1)
May (1)
June
(1)
July (1)
August
September
(2)
October (2)
(1)
November (1)
December
|
(1)
January (1)
February
March
April
May
June
(1)
July (1)
August
September
October
November
December
|
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
|