Date: 8/21/25 6:37 pm From: Toby Burke via groups.io <kenaibirder...> Subject: [AKBirding] Kasilof River 8/21: Curlew Sandpiper Persisting
A group of Anchorage and Kenai Peninsula birders relocated the CURLEW SANDPIPER (CUSA) on the rising tide without too much trouble. The bird exhibited the very same use pattern as in previous days - working the advancing tidal edge from well offshore almost into the gravel beach. When the final mass of Greater Yellowlegs and associated shorebirds depart en masse for the river mouth and upland wetlands the CUSA also departs. It then continues to forage along the south side river bank along the water's edge working upstream on the rising tide - sometimes alone and sometimes with dowitchers and or yellowlegs.
Of course, the bird can also be successfully "worked" on a falling tide. Of note: the tides are continuing to grow until Sunday the 24th with the tidal "window" for working the bird generally shrinking until then as the advancing or retreating waters steadily accelerate. Other notable shorebirds at the Kasilof River mouth include RED KNOTS and a lone STILT SANDPIPER. No Sharp-tailed Sandpipers yet. Twenty-three shorebird species have been tallied in the past five days at this site and 27 total shorebird species this August.
