Quick Post -- Long-billed curlew in late light

Taken in late afternoon light at Morro Bay.

Curlew dancing in the wind

The storm system we followed down the coast kept the winds strong all day, but they were the worst when we got out of the car in Morro Bay. I had planned the trip to get us to this area so that I could look for some birds to photograph in the late light, and the timing worked out perfectly. Unfortunately, the strong winds made it hard to stay out on the beach! It didn't stop blowing, not even for a second -- it was just a constant force against your body.



It was bad enough for us walking around on the beach, but I can't even imagine how hard it was for the handful of curlews I saw along the beach. They were leaning at odd angles while they walked, and feathers were flowing in all directions.



In the end, we only spent a short time on the beach -- just enough to snap off a few shots of some curles -- before deciding to try our luck at a location further inland.