Clark: May 1, 1805
The expedition departed at sunrise on a cool, cloudy morning with a stiff easterly breeze. J. Shields was ill with rheumatism. Shannon shot a previously unfamiliar bird, described in detail by Clark, who named it the Missouri Plover, noting its sharp upturned bill, brown head and neck, white and black plumage, long sky-blue legs, and webbed feet. As the day progressed, the wind grew too strong and the waves too high for the canoes, forcing the party to put ashore on the larboard side and remain there for the rest of the day.
May the 1st Wednesday 1805 We Set out at Sun rise under a Stiff Breeze
from the East, the morning Cool & Cloudy. one man J. Shields Sick with
rhumetismone of the men (Shannon) Shot a Gull or pleaver, which is
about the Size of an Indian hen, with a Sharp pointed bill turning up
& 4 Inches long, the head and neck of a light brown, the breast, the
underfeathers of the 2nd and 3d joint of the wings, the Short feathers on
the upper part of the 3rd joint of the wings, down the back the rump &
tail white. The large feathers of the 1st joints of the wing the upper
feathers of the 2d joints of the wings, on the body on the joints of the
wing and the bill is black.the legs long and of a Skie blue. The
feet webed &c. This fowl may be properly Stiled the Missouri Pleaverthe
wind became verry Hard and we put too on the L. Side, as the wind
Continued with Some degree of violence and the waves too high for the
Canoes we were obliged to Stay all day
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
May 1st, Wednesday, 1805. We set out at sunrise under a stiff breeze from the East; the morning was cool and cloudy. One man, J. Shields, was sick with rheumatism. One of the men (Shannon) shot a gull or plover, which is about the size of an Indian hen, with a sharp pointed bill turning up and 4 inches long. The head and neck are a light brown; the breast, the under feathers of the 2nd and 3rd joints of the wings, the short feathers on the upper part of the 3rd joint of the wings, down the back, the rump, and tail are white. The large feathers of the 1st joints of the wing, the upper feathers of the 2nd joints of the wings, on the body at the joints of the wing, and the bill are black. The legs are long and of a sky blue. The feet are webbed, etc. This fowl may properly be styled the Missouri Plover.
The wind became very hard and we put to on the L. Side. As the wind continued with some degree of violence and the waves were too high for the canoes, we were obliged to stay all day.
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