Hi everybody, and happy new year!
I'm on Madeira this week, and while it's not in the same league as the Azores when it comes to American vagrants, I was keeping my eyes open for anything out of the ordinary.
In particular, a Spotted Sandpiper has been reported on the island recently. I checked the last place it was seen a couple days ago, to no avail. And then today I saw this fellow near a river mouth on the northeastern coast (a few km from the other spot it had been seen). Having reviewed the field marks to tell apart Spotted from Common, the yellow legs and short tail did appear to look quite good. And then in flight, its wingbars didn't seem to quite reach the body.
Now, I've seen both species many times, but always on their respective continents, and I wouldn't feel confident calling a vagrant wader on my own.
So what say the experts: yay or nay?
As always, many thanks in advance.
T
I'm on Madeira this week, and while it's not in the same league as the Azores when it comes to American vagrants, I was keeping my eyes open for anything out of the ordinary.
In particular, a Spotted Sandpiper has been reported on the island recently. I checked the last place it was seen a couple days ago, to no avail. And then today I saw this fellow near a river mouth on the northeastern coast (a few km from the other spot it had been seen). Having reviewed the field marks to tell apart Spotted from Common, the yellow legs and short tail did appear to look quite good. And then in flight, its wingbars didn't seem to quite reach the body.
Now, I've seen both species many times, but always on their respective continents, and I wouldn't feel confident calling a vagrant wader on my own.
So what say the experts: yay or nay?
As always, many thanks in advance.
T
