A few others have shown interest about this sighting offline, so here are some more details. *First, by no means am I calling this a Spoon-billed Sandpiper*. When initially compared to other sandpipers in the vicinity (notably a single White-rumped and two Baird's), the size (smaller than both sandpipers, smaller than the Semi-palmated Plovers it was grouped with), plumage (resembling a juvenile sandpiper based on scaly upperparts), facial markings (an eye/ear patch more distinct than Baird's and White-rumped), and leg color (dark), as well as the unusually shaped bill, all pointed towards a sandpiper *resembling* a Spoon-billed. However, I (and others) noticed the bill did not appear as "spatulate" when viewed head on, rather it appeared rounded from the sides. In addition, the bill seemed to broaden closer to the head than what is shown in books and online for a Spoon-billed Sandpiper. The feeding habit was typical of "grass-pipers" and yes, the habitat threw me and others if considering Spoon-billed, but this side of the world seems like an odd fit in general. Another possibility is so type of hybrid, e.g. Baird's and Semipalmated SPs, but again the color and shape of the bill do not fit, and it is pure speculation. A few birders took some pics and may post links to the list later and hopefully a healthy discussion will follow.
Best regards, Aaron Virgin Westhampton, NY On Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 3:22 PM, Peter Scully <peterandrewscull...@yahoo.com>wrote: > Can anyone provide a little more information on this bird? Description of > the "odd bill shape"? Grass-piper habitat seems an odd fit for > Spoon-billed, no? > Thanks! > > Peter > > > --- On *Thu, 9/6/12, Aaron Virgin <eastendbir...@gmail.com>* wrote: > > > From: Aaron Virgin <eastendbir...@gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] 16 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 2 Baird's ++, > Riverhead, Sound Ave. > To: "Derek Rogers" <drogers0...@gmail.com> > Cc: "NY Bird List" <nysbirds-l@cornell.edu> > Date: Thursday, September 6, 2012, 2:31 PM > > A highly unusual juvenile sandpiper species is currently being viewed at > this location by MOB. The closest fit is SPOONBILLED SANDPIPER based on the > odd bill shape, however the color of the bill is not entirely black. The > chances of it being this species is beyond incredibly rare, but a > definitive ID is still open for debate. Some pics are being taken but more > are welcome to help nail this one down. First observed at 11:40 and still > being seen by about 15 birders at the same location Derek referenced > earlier. Good luck if you go. > > Aaron Virgin > > On Sep 6, 2012, at 9:52 AM, Derek Rogers > <drogers0...@gmail.com<http://us.mc1601.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=drogers0...@gmail.com>> > wrote: > > > As of 9:40 AM: > > > > From Sound Avenue, just west of CR-105 looking south I noticed a large > group of shorebirds in the sod field. > > > > 1 Buffy led to the next where I tallied at least 16. There were also 2 > definitive BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS and a handful of Pectorals. Other common > peeps were in the mix as well. > > > > It would be great if birders can follow up here as I had very limited > time to further detail the area. There were plenty more birds sparsely > located throughout this field in the distance. > > > > Best, > > Derek Rogers > > Sayville > > Http://dereksnest.blogspot.com <http://dereksnest.blogspot.com/> > > > > > > > > -- > > > > NYSbirds-L List Info: > > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> > > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> > > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > > > > ARCHIVES: > > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html > > > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > > > -- > > > > -- > > NYSbirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > > -- > *NYSbirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and > Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail > Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> > *Please submit your observations to **eBird*<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/> > *!* > -- > -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
