The yellow flag is likely a north Dakota bird. The number of banded plover
has dropped in recent years due to union difficulties in banding the
Canadian birds that are so common on the coast locally at bolivar etc. Some
banders are in process of switching to numbered bands rather than sets of 3
or 4 colored bands. I think that I have more than 50 banded birds
photographed over the years and others have much larger numbers.
As you mention, taking a really long range picture is the best way to get
band information as it avoids disturbing the birds when trying to get close
to them for the pictures.
On Tue, Apr 26, 2016 at 5:24 PM, Bert Frenz <bertf@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I noticed on the Austin RBA that a banded Piping Plover was observed at
Lake
Belton on 17 April and that the yellow flag bore the number F06.
I have been birding the seashore at Mustang Island for the past week and
have identified several banded Piping Plovers. Specifically, I have found
A84, J45, 9D9, 8N2 and F82.
Lake Belton is due north of Mustang Island 235 miles. It seems possible
that the plovers I am watching could stop at Lake Belton too.
The numbers on the bands can be seen with binoculars, but they are much
easier to read if you take photos with a long lens and blow them up on your
computer.
You can see my photos of the banded birds on eBird:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29116070
If that link doesn't work for you, use Explore Data and search for Piping
Plover at Mustang Island. Then click on the orange balloon labeled
"US-TX-Port Aransas-Mustang Island - 27.7636x-97.1080"
I'd be curious if anyone else finds these plovers in migration north of
here.
Bert Frenz
Oaks & Praries of Texas
NAB subregional editor, north-east Texas
Bert2@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.bafrenz.com <http://www.bafrenz.com/>
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