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Semipalmated Sandpiper, NL, Canada (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter cangoose
- Start date
phil baber
Clipped Wing
The white "V" on mantle and obvious rufous upper scapulars, the startling white supercilium in front of the eyes? From the first photo?
These details lead me to believe this a juvenile Western Sandpiper.
I do not see the second photo as good to work from.
Some detail on the black markings on the wing coverts would be more helpful. But, even with the first image, a Semi-P's anchor shaped markings would be discernable perhaps? Any better photos Lancy?
IMHO juv Western.
These details lead me to believe this a juvenile Western Sandpiper.
I do not see the second photo as good to work from.
Some detail on the black markings on the wing coverts would be more helpful. But, even with the first image, a Semi-P's anchor shaped markings would be discernable perhaps? Any better photos Lancy?
IMHO juv Western.
cangoose
Well-known member
Thanks, Phil! I'm afraid they are the best I could get. I haven't thought about Western Sandpiper, as it is really rare here. I'll check other pictures to see if I could find something useful.
Edit: the "rufous" was mainly because of the strong light. There were four of them and all were gray.
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phil baber
Clipped Wing
Lancy,
I may be wrong. So wait for others' opinions. You've got Semi-P and Least to fall back on. The pics are fine and should get you an ID. And, hopefully, me being proved wrong!
Best,
Phil
I may be wrong. So wait for others' opinions. You've got Semi-P and Least to fall back on. The pics are fine and should get you an ID. And, hopefully, me being proved wrong!
Best,
Phil
cangoose
Well-known member
Lancy,
I may be wrong. So wait for others' opinions. You've got Semi-P and Least to fall back on. The pics are fine and should get you an ID. And, hopefully, me being proved wrong!
Best,
Phil
Thank you very much for your help, Phil! I'm so inexperienced with shorebirds. Here is the "cheat sheet" I took with me today, which looks really stupid.8-P
Attachments
cangoose
Well-known member
Lancy,
I may be wrong. So wait for others' opinions. You've got Semi-P and Least to fall back on. The pics are fine and should get you an ID. And, hopefully, me being proved wrong!
Best,
Phil
Hi Phil,
I found two other pictures. They are not better but, from different angle, may (or may not) provide more information.
Thank you very much for your help!
Lancy
Attachments
Jane Turner
Well-known member
Looks initially like Least to me (pale legs, all those scap edges and split super) , though the bill looks more robust than usual. and obviously not if they were really all grey in the field - plus the upper breast looks a bit clean!
Which puts me back into bright juv Semi P territory!
Which puts me back into bright juv Semi P territory!
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cangoose
Well-known member
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your help! I'm sorry for the poor images, in which colors do not look right. They might look better if I adjusted white balance, but the over all quality would still be the same. The "pale legs" are actually blackish. Maybe it's time to invest on a better camera.
Cheers,
Lancy
tom baxter
Well-known member
At first I thought western sandpiper but I did not know they were rare at that location. I read the above posts and looked again and noticed that the streaking on the chest is not as prominent as I would normally see on a western sandpiper. This does appear to be a juvenile bird to me which makes it much more difficult for me! If it is not a western sandpiper I would guess it is a semipalmated sandpiper as well.
cangoose
Well-known member
Hi Tom,
http://naturenl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/bird_checklist.pdf
According to the checklist, Western Sandpiper is listed as X* (VERY RARE, recorded three times or less). The checklist has not been updated for a while, so, I checked eBird and found three records by a same person, all traced back to 1989-1990. I wouldn't say Western Sandpiper is impossible but the chance is really rare.
Lancy
