I didn't see yesterday's Dune Road calidrid sandpiper, nor have I yet seen any photos or heard any extensive description so I can't add anything at all to the discussion of that particular bird. However, a couple of photos I took on August 4 of this year on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge may be pertinent here. The first thought that entered my mind when this roosting individual materialized in my scope was indeed Temminck's Stint, but after some closer observation, analysis, and conversations with those more knowledgeable about this identification it became clear that this bird didn't quite fit that species, and was a much better fit for basic plumaged Least Sandpiper (which despite it's scarceness on the East Coast would still be much more expected than Temminck's Stint I'd assume). One field mark that happened to help in this particular case was that it was tiny, seemingly even smaller than most Least Sandpipers which essentially eliminates all peeps other t! han Least Sandpiper. All field marks were seemingly well within the range of Least Sandpiper. Certainly a plumage that I don't believe I've ever seen in NY before, especially not in the East Pond in early August. This probably contributed to some features, notably the eye-ring, seeming more prominent than I've ever seen on alternate, transitional or juvenile Least Sandpipers.
The photos are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/fresha2411/2009#5366152772244715730 http://picasaweb.google.com/fresha2411/2009#5366152749523046466 Good shorebirding -Doug Gochfeld. Brooklyn, NY. -----Original Message----- From: Lloyd Spitalnik <[email protected]> To: NYSBirds <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, Aug 24, 2009 2:10 pm Subject: [nysbirds-l] Fw: more on temminck's stint - eastern long island ? ----- Original Message ----- From: Lloyd Spitalnik To: NYSBirds Cc: Kevin Karlson Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 2:08 PM Subject: more on temminck's stint - eastern long island Hi all, I just had a long conversation with Kevin Karlson regarding?stints in general. Besides for things he's already written on BirdWG01 (see http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/FRID.html#1251058413?and http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/FRID.html#1251056798) he wanted to point out that the plumage in question on the Long Island bird is addressed in his book "The Shorebird Guide" on both page 160, plate 12 and page 289, plate 5 inset. I hope this helps?bring?more understanding. Lloyd ? Lloyd Spitalnik's Wildlife Galleries www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com www.blog.lloydspitalnikphotos.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
