[obol] Nehalem Sewage Ponds: Pectoral Sanpipers continue..
- From: David Bailey <davidcbaileyoregon@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 17:53:25 -0700
25 July 2014
Nehalem Sewage Treatment Ponds
Tillamook County, Oregon
High tide--ish (near slack) 3pm
I checked the ponds this morning and found only a single PECTORAL SANDPIPER
on the N. water's-edge of the NE pond. I came back this afternoon around
high tide and found three PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and single LEAST and SPOTTED
SANPIPER. No other migrant shorebirds were showing. The PECTORALS all
appeared to be after hatch year birds (not juveniles). I made a preliminary
identification of 2 adults and one 2nd-year bird, but I want to review my
photos to be more certain. The 2nd-year bird had a retained juvenile rufous
scapular that stood out on its upperparts, and very worn coverts. It was a
bit smaller and had a slightly higher pitched call than the two other
Pectorals which appeared to be males from their larger size and heavier
(darker) breast ("pectoral") markings. I decided that the 2nd-year bird
must be a female.
Incidentally, none of these Pec's looked anything like the small Calidrid I
reported on as a possible Long-toed Stint the other day. The facial
markings of the crown and supercillium were much to streaked with dark, the
bills were too long and thick-base, and the plumage details of the body
were different. The birds were all too big and obviously bigger than peeps.
The adult LEAST SANDPIPER that was there was also a very different
individual than the possible rare I found there the other day. I am stating
this just to help clarify the circumstances. At no time did I think that I
had mis-identified a peep for a Pectoral on Monday. Years ago, Skip Russel
and I were birding the old Wayco ponds on the N. Spit of Coos bay and a
single Pectoral Sandpiper was all alone on the flats at some distance, a
bright juvenal, and we did mistake the id initially as a Least Sandpiper.
It can happen, but once bitten, twice shy as the saying goes, and I don't
believe that was the case with my recent RBA.
David
David C. Bailey
Manzanita, Oregon for the summer
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