I planned on taking things a little slower on Monday, but Mike McGrenere foiled those plans.  He was on Mt. Doug again, apparently having blistering looks at Townsend’s Solitaire and Pine Grosbeak.  This bird-chasing is getting addictive.  I already had both those species for both my year and Capital lists, so why did I feel that I had to go back up the hill?  I got there a few minutes after the gate was scheduled to open and when I got to the top, Mary Robichaud was already there looking for the birds.  We didn’t find them in a reasonable amount of time, so I left to go to Panama Flats.  I still wanted to get the Western Sandpipers for my list.  Mary stayed and was joined by Elaine Preston.  They were visited by a Townsend’s Solitaire shortly after I left.

At Panama Flats, I spotted three birders on the central dike.  I recognized Kim Beardsmore, but not the other two.  They were Ted and Louise Joiner, whose names I certainly knew, but who I had not had the pleasure of meeting before.  While we were checking out the peeps, I heard an unfamiliar call.  Having learned my lesson with the Clay-coloured Sparrow last week, I wasn’t going to let this one get away.  It was a large shorebird, and as it flew over us, I could see the long downturned bill.  Long-Billed Curlew!  As it reached the end of the dike, it gave the more characteristic ker—leeew call, confirming the ID.  It circled around a couple of times before settling on the far side of the west pond

Calls were made, texts were sent, the bird was eBirded, and a note was sent to the BCVIBIRDS Yahoo group.  It wasn’t long before the dike was hosting many people from the birding community.  The bird was harassed by crows and flew a couple of times, but thankfully settled down again, providing excellent views for many birders.  So many people have been helping me out with reports of birds, I was so happy that I was able to find one to share! It stayed around  for about four hours before it picked up and headed north.  It hasn’t been seen since.

On Mt. Doug, people were getting awesome looks at the Pine Grosbeak and Townsend’s Solitaire again.  Oh, well, I was out.  Might as well go back up to see what I could see.  Cathy Reader was there, but only had a few minutes to look around.  Sadly, we were not able to locate the birds.  After she left, I headed for the “teacup”–the seating area at the top of the hill.  About halfway up, I heard pishing.  In my first year of birding, Hank van der Pol demonstrated how pishing can attract birders ans well as birds, and it was certainly working on me that evening.  I could see the photographer, but didn’t recognize him.  I approached and introduced myself to Tim Zurowski, another person I knew by name and reputation, but hadn’t had the privilege of meeting in person.  He had been up on the hill for some time photographing a VERY cooperative grosbeak.  In all of his years of bird photography, this was the first time he was able to get good shots of a Pine Grosbeak.  He graciously let me have a good spot to view and photograph the bird.

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I had some fleeting glimpses of a solitaire, so I called Christian Kelly as I knew he was still looking for them.  He was on the other side of the summit with Warren Lee, so they came around to where I was. Of course, by the time they got to me, the bird was gone.   There were plenty of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Christian got the grosbeak as a consolation prize, but no solitaire.  Agnes Lynn was also looking, with similar results.  Some people see solitaires just about everywhere they look. For others, it’s an epic quest.  I am so relieved to have that one checked off!