Shorebird N Colombia (1 Viewer)

[njlarsen]

This picture was taken 28 August 2023 in
SFF Los Flamencos, El Camarones, Guajira, Colombia. I have a feel it should be a plover, but not sure to species and may be completely off.
Any help appreciated
Niels

 

[Bewick]

Do you mind giving me an approximate size? Did it appear amongst other plovers? Something looks strange with that orangish tinge to its upper breast.

Edit- Any more pics?

 

[njlarsen]

I honestly do not remember it from life. I saw collared, snowy, wilson's and semip plovers that day. I need to see if I have images of other birds from that piece of beach that can help me with size estimate.
Niels

 

[CARERY]

The lack of a collar plus the orange tinge to the breast make me think Siberian (or possible Tibetan) Sand Plover - an adult moulting into non-breeding plumage... Would that be a first for Colombia?

 

[dwatsonbirder]

The lack of a collar plus the orange tinge to the breast make me think Siberian (or possible Tibetan) Sand Plover - an adult moulting into non-breeding plumage... Would that be a first for Colombia?

I'd agree with Carery, a first for Colombia, with one previous South American record (Argentina). Incredible!

 

[njlarsen]

The lack of a collar plus the orange tinge to the breast make me think Siberian (or possible Tibetan) Sand Plover - an adult moulting into non-breeding plumage... Would that be a first for Colombia?

Seems the current first was discovered at the same location less than 2 weeks later ...

Chorlitejo Mongol Chico/Siberian sand plover/Anarhynchus mongolus

Chorlitejo Mongol Chico/Siberian sand plover/Charadrius mongolus

birdscolombia.com

Niels

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Seems the current first was discovered at the same location less than 2 weeks later ...

Chorlitejo Mongol Chico/Siberian sand plover/Anarhynchus mongolus

Chorlitejo Mongol Chico/Siberian sand plover/Charadrius mongolus

birdscolombia.com

Niels

Different individual too, given the worn appearance of your (?) earlier bird. Sensational find!

 

[CARERY]

Awesome record Niels! Is it an underwatched site or does that indicate a small influx ?

 

[njlarsen]

There is 1-2 local guides who come there with some regularity, at least if they have people to guide.
Niels

 

[Bewick]

The lack of a collar plus the orange tinge to the breast make me think Siberian (or possible Tibetan) Sand Plover - an adult moulting into non-breeding plumage... Would that be a first for Colombia?

This is what I was thinking, didn't want to bite the bullet before others did. From my research a Siberian sand plover was seen in Quebec in July, in Massachusetts in august and in his exact area in September.

Photo of individual from MA- ML606027561 - Siberian Sand-Plover - Macaulay Library

 

[njlarsen]

Edit- Any more pics?

There was a request for another image. I have only found one other image, of the exact the same angle and a slightly poorer focus.

This would be only my second ever registration of this species, the first one in Australia in 2006.
Niels

 

[Bewick]

There was a request for another image. I have only found one other image, of the exact the same angle and a slightly poorer focus.

This would be only my second ever registration of this species, the first one in Australia in 2006.
Niels

Wow, thats pretty amazing... also this would be the actual first registration for the species in Colombia. Honestly, I think that one picture is fine.

 

[njlarsen]

Here is the image after I did a little play with post processing. The above image was straight out of my camera, which always presents a somewhat flat image.
Niels

 

[KC Foggin]

A great image of this great find Niels!!

 

[Bewick]

Here is the image after I did a little play with post processing. The above image was straight out of my camera, which always presents a somewhat flat image.
Niels
View attachment 1542327

Is there any ornithological body in Colombia that you could submit this record too? It's definitely worth doing.

 

[njlarsen]

I don’t know, but it’s been added to my eBird checklist. I expect to hear back if it should be submitted elsewhere.
Niels

 

[Brian J Small]

Photo of MA bird show it to be the same bird as discussed here

 

[Bewick]

Photo of MA bird show it to be the same bird as discussed here

My opinions as well, they look eerily similar.