Nebraska’s First Curlew Sandpiper ( Calidris ferruginea )

• Main Authors: Jorgensen, Joel G., Silcock, W. Ross
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 1998
• Subjects: Ornithology; Poultry or Avian Science; Zoology; South Road; Arenaria interpres; Ruddy Turnstone
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebbirdrev/1005; https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/nebbirdrev/article/1998/viewcontent/Nebraska_Bird_Review_66_1_Mar_1998_Curlew_Sandpiper.pdf

During a birding trip on 19 July 1997, we stopped at Funk WPA, Phelps County. While viewing from the north-south road that runs through the marsh at the east end of the marsh, we caught glimpses of a large group of shorebirds behind cattails in an area on the south side of the main marsh and about a third of a mile west of the road. We eventually decided to walk out and get a closer look at the shorebirds. Once we were close enough we were able to see that there were approximately 250 shorebirds. We began sifting through the flock looking for rarities and were first pleased to find a Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) and then more so when we found a Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), which is rare in fall. Then, toward the edge of the flock, Jorgensen spotted a rufous-colored shorebird loosely associated with a group of Stilt Sandpipers (Calidris himantopus) which we recognized as a Curlew Sandpiper.