another 1st state record

Just before noon today I learned of a putative Long-billed Curlew, a long-awaited state first for Michigan (pending MBRC acceptance), reported by a crop duster operator at the South Haven airport in Van Buren Co. For years we have pondered just how this species would show up, and ask why it hadn't already done so. Many of us pictured small flocks being found in early May in ag fields in the w. UP, others preferred to imagine a New Buffalo or Lake Erie Metropark flyby in early August. So this wasn't exactly the setting we thought it would occur in, but once we heard the curlew had been present, by itself, since Monday (we later learned it was actually first noticed on Tuesday), we realized it almost certainly wasn't a Whimbrel (this species sticks to coastal beaches and rarely stops this time of year for very long). By 5PM I reached the site, long after many of the first visitors had already left having seen the bird.

The bird was immediately obvious on the grassy areas amongst the runway, at times approaching to within a few hundred feet, but mostly farther.



Many thanks to the multiple birders who allowed me to use their scopes (mine is still in the repair shop; this is the second very rare bird I've chased since losing it- what timing!) today, and especially to the crop duster operator and his family who found, reported, and ultimately allowed private viewing access to all of us. Another great record for the books...