Finding an American Avocet Recurvirostra americana is not difficult in some places. At many places in eastern Washington they are common and easy to find and see breeding birds on alkaline lakes. They are decidedly uncommon in Western Washington.
A friend and I were at one of our favorite birding spots, Dune Peninsula Park in Tacoma, WA this week, when while scoping for a jaeger or other seabird far offshore I heard an unusual bird call I could not identify. It sounded like a shorebird, but not one I expected. I looked down on the rocks just below us and could not believe I was seeing an American Avocet, a county first bird for both Bruce and me.
The bird seemed to stop for a break, look around curiously as though to wonder, "Where in the world am I, and how do I find Utah from here?" After about 5 minutes, long enough for photos and for us to send a text to friends to come quickly to see this rarity for Pierce County, the bird took flight, zipped away around the point and to my knowledge has not been seen again locally.
I tell friends, you are a lot more likely to find a rare bird when you go birding.
Thanks for following. Good birding!