Terek Sandpiper Sunset – Stanwood, WA

The Terek Sandpiper was never part of our Central Washington Tour plan. We had headed south to add species like White-headed Woodpecker, Bobolink, Least Tern, and Black Tern to our year list. While we were in Spokane, a text from Melissa Hafting changed everything. A Terek Sandpiper had been found just south of the Canadian border. This would give us a rare opportunity to see one of Asia’s most sought-after shorebirds.

We immediately turned toward the coast and made the long drive back, hoping the bird would still be there. We arrived shortly after noon but had no luck. Knowing it had appeared around high tide the previous two evenings, we left to track down a Heermann’s Gull. We then returned to the settling pond at 8:30 p.m. The bird had reappeared only 15 minutes earlier. We walked down the Port Susan Pathway to a group of smiling birders and quickly found the unmistakable sandpiper. Its slightly upturned bill and constant bobbing action made identification easy. We stayed through sunset, watching this remarkable vagrant in beautiful evening light. Terek Sandpipers normally breed across northern Eurasia and winter from Africa to Australia, making one in Washington an unforgettable experience.