First Post, First Whimbrels and A Lot of Running

Seeing the reports from "The Whimbrel Spot"on Long Island, Cedar Beach County Park in Southold, and the fact that I have never seen one, Tuesday seemed like a perfect day to give it shot.  Since low tide was around 5:30PM I decided for a late start.  After arriving around 11:30, even though it was high tide I figured it was worth a try.  The first shorebirds of the day were 7 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 4 Least Sandpipers on a few circular flats created by breaks in the marsh grasses.  Upon seeing these peeps, I immediately had hope that the much longer legged Whimbrel might also be around with the tide still high.  Short legs don't usually go well with high water! 

A quick scope scan through the nearby grass revealed nothing.  While making my way down the rocky path, I was met by a flustered Northern Mockingbird which probably defending a nest in one of the small evergreen trees surrounding the trail.  After rounding the corner I immediately saw several large shorebirds on a raised sandbar covered in the same marsh grasses as in the lower area surrounding the bar.  Quickly raising my binoculars three birds standing on the far left became apparent, slightly larger browner birds than the Willets on the right with long obviously decurved bills, that was them.  I had my life Whimbrels, Numenius phaeopus!  Life bird #452.  I immediately went to grab my camera but realized that in my rush to find my life Whimbrels I had left my camera in the car.  I left my scope and sprinted back to the car to grab it.  I got back to my scope and then remembered I again left something in the car, my digiscoping adapter.  Once again I sprinted back to the car, grabbed the adapter and sprinted back to photograph the Whimbrels.  Unfortunately my running had startled the Whimbrels and Willets and they flew off toward the shore line of the beach.  The good new was I was able to see the birds in flight well and was able to confirm the subspecies to be the common hudsonicus and not the rare European subspecies with a white rump patch.  After a few minutes of brisk walking careful not to spook the Whimbrels again, I got to a good viewing point.  A quick glance revealed another two Whimbrels had joined the original three bringing the total to five.  A great day!