FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER AT LEONARD'S POND

["Brenda Tekin" <bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have included web link to few pics of the WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
photographed yesterday at Leonard's Pond in Rockingham County.  I arrived by
5:55 p.m. and it was "actively" feeding along western side. 
 
Lighting was excellent to fair with occasional clouds blocking out the sun
that explains images under sunny and cloudy conditions.
 
 
Field marks which I observed:
 
Size - slightly larger and longer than Least Sandpiper; looking straight on
the bird appeared more "chunky" but in profile appeared streamline
Field Marks - wings extended beyond tail; short, blackish bill that seemed
slightly decurved (downward curve); black legs; whitish supercilium that
appeared wider past the eye; lightly streaked on chest and I could easily
see the fine streaking down the flanks; white, unstreaked belly.  When not
near other birds, I could easily pick it up simply by the paleness of the
head and face in comparison to the Least and possible Western's. There
appeared to be a very pale (whitish) patch on the forehead.  Not initially
seen was the red at base of the lower mandible.  It's possible angle and
lighting might explain this.  However, I was also viewing through camera and
it wasn't until after I downloaded pictures onto computer and using zoom I
was able to see the red.  The red only shows up on those images where bird
is facing away from camera and head angled to the left (west).
 
Behavior - For well over 2 hours this bird actively fed, meaning its head
was continually submerged. It would at times completely submerge its head,
moving it back and forth, sometimes forward, clearly keeping head submerged
longer than the other shorebirds.  It was rather comical, and I kept asking
when was it going to come up for air.  It did not appear skittish when other
birds would fly or if there was an alarm call.  Instead, it remained intent
on feeding.  Very rarely would it preen and the few times it did it
typically would fluff up the feathers and there would be the briefest
flashes of the white tail.  It was observed flying three times and the
prominent white rump flashed in the golden glow of the setting sun.  Also
seen was a thin, white wing stripe.
 
Web link to pics:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/Gallery_pages/White-rumpedSandpiper_Gallery.h
tm
 
 
 
Other birds present:  
LESSER YELLOWLEG (11+) Many feeding further up into the surrounding pasture.
(Quite a few flew in around 6:20 p.m.)
GREATER YELLOWLEG (5+)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (2)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (3)
LEAST SANDPIPER (10=)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (2)
POSSIBLE SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (3)
KILLDEER (6+)
AMERICAN PIPIT (3)
BARN SWALLOW
TREE SWALLOW
 
 
Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures.

Photo journal including Birds of Virginia:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com <http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/>  


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