FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Stilt at Austin Springs

[James Brooks <comeback@xxxxxxxx>]

About 6:30 p.m. I joined Ellen and Charlie Parker and Chris O'Brien, who 
were waving to Donald Holt on the far bank from Humphrey's picnic area 
at Austin Springs. The reason for the excitement, of course, was the 
Black-necked Stilt, who was standing in the near shallows, totally 
unimpressed with all these people.
I was at the site on the other side earlier in the afternoon, about 3 
p.m. and saw nothing but a lot of Canada Geese, 19 Double-crested 
Cormorants, a couple of Great Blue Herons and a lone Ruddy Duck paddling 
about in the middle of the lake. I worked that entire shoreline, but did 
not go to the Humphreys pasture at that time. I called Ellen on her cell 
and reported that it was still worth a look (they couldn't come before 
4) because shorebirds often came in to roost at dusk. As soon as I 
returned home from supper she called with the news that they had the bird.
The pasture was full of Killdeers as I walked up. Once I set up my scope 
so everybody could have a good look. Charlie Parker scanned around and 
spotted a shorebird that I identified as a Sanderling, based on the fact 
that his breast was snowy white from chin to belly. He was settled down 
for the night with his bill nestled in his breast feathers and was not 
about to give us any other view than straight on, but on my first glance 
I thought I sawt the black patch at the bend of the wing. I told the 
others to also look for the lack of a hind toe as they looked, and 
Charlie said he saw the bird lift his foot and there was no toe. However 
I can't say that the lack of such a fine field mark could be diagnostic.
I am waffling a bit because another group of eminent birders was there 
two hours earlier and said they saw a Dunlin at the same place, but did 
not report a Sanderling. Every description I have of winter plumaged 
Dunlin notes a distinct gray wash at the top of the breast, and our bird 
was pure white, top to bottom.
Since this was the time of day shorebirds are most active, I can only 
conclude the Dunlin seen by Stevens, Langridge et al. moved out and a 
Sanderling moved in.
Too bad, I already have a Sanderling for a bird of the year, but lack a 
Dunlin.

James Brooks
Jonesborough, TN

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