Charlie Spencer Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) Same farm pond I babbled about 18 months ago. It's down again, this time due to evaporation and not intentionally drained. The usual suspects are gleaning the newly exposed muddy areas (waders, crows, Killdeer), and of course the most popular areas are those farthest away from the publicly accessible road. eBird says the two most likely suspects this time of year are Spotted and Least. I don't know if Spotteds hang out in flocks of 20 or so. I also don't know when they lose their spots for the year. These did appear too large for Leasts when compared to the Killdeer in the area. Photos 1 and 2 are the same flock in flight. In the first photo, the underwing pattern on the three left birds seems different from the next three to the right. I notice a lot of white on the rumps in the second photo. The last includes a Killdeer on the right for size comparison. As always, thanks in advance! Edited June 12, 2022 by Charlie Spencer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 Could that one with the darker underwing be Red-necked Phalarope? Spotted would have fully dark tail, Least and Dunlin would have dark stripe down middle of tail. Could some of the smaller ones be White-rumped Sandpiper and maybe a Dunlin for the largest bird in flight. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 13, 2022 Author Share Posted June 13, 2022 White-rumped or any phalarope would be county records; I think we can rule them out. Anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan B Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 Not that I've ever seen the species before, but I'm of the opinion that there are a number of White-rumped Sandpipers in these photos, probably mixed in with some other peep species. In particular the third bird from the left in the second photo almost certainly has to be a White-rumped Sandpiper in my opinion. I suspect that most of the other birds in that photo are WRSA as well. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't WRSA the only peep expected in the ABA area with a completely white rump that's not a rarity to the ABA area? That bird in the third photo on the far left seems to have long wings, and seems about the size a WRSA should be when compared to that Killdeer, though as we all know judging the size of birds is not very reliable from photos. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 38 minutes ago, Aidan B said: Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't WRSA the only peep expected in the ABA area with a completely white rump that's not a rarity to the ABA area? Stilt Sandpiper and the Yellowlegs as far as “common” birds. After that you get into Curlew Sandpiper. I agree that there is at least a few WRSA in there. I’m guessing that middle bird in 1st photo has some shadow making wing look that dark underneath. @Charlie Spencer It is okay to get 1st county records. Embrace it? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 Leftmost bird in the last photo is WRSA with those long wings. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 14, 2022 Author Share Posted June 14, 2022 I think I have e-mails for a couple of county reviewers. Let me run these by and see what they think. WRSA would also be lifers. Thanks! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 14, 2022 Author Share Posted June 14, 2022 A couple of local hotshots agree. I've changed the checklist from 'Peep sp' to WRSA and added the photos. We'll see what the reviewers say. 22 hours ago, chipperatl said: @Charlie Spencer It is okay to get 1st county records. Embrace it? No, that doesn't happen to me. You've obviously mistaken me for someone competent. Thanks, everyone! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 16, 2022 Author Share Posted June 16, 2022 https://ebird.org/checklist/S112655259 The photos are on Mac WITHOUT 'Unconfirmed' tags! The sightings map for WRSA shows my list. Even better, it shows the lists of three friends who saw them yesterday, one with much better photos, so other people got to see them. They're not showing on the list of county birds yet but I think that's a matter of time Thanks, everyone! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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