Photos of the proposed hybrid Calidrid sandpiper can be viewed at the following link:
http://peregrineprints.com/Blog/Temp/PBurke.htm Many thanks to Brandon Holden who kindly offered to help me out - my website is down at the moment and I'll hopefully have them there in a bit. A couple of comments from my field notes about the bird: -smaller in appearance to the Dunlin with which it always associated, but not by much; this is apparent in the photos. This applies to the bill as well - slightly slimmer, shorter and less drooped tip in direct comparison. -appeared to have completed its pre-alternate molt; a few retained wing coverts. -didn't appear to be any more attenuated in shape than the Dunlin - ie/ not the long-ended look of a White-rumped or Bairds. Primary extention not as notable as those spp either and more like the Dunlin. -bill was completely black - no hint of any other color at the base of lower mandible. -appeared to have a chest band, like a Dunlin or Pec, that was distinct from the streaking along the sides by having more of a dirty ground color with the streaks. This was most evident on a head-on view (see photos). -I wasn't able to capture a photo of it, but the rump did have a thin dark streak through it. It was thinner than the nearby Dunlin. -white wing stripe like a Dunlin. -No calls noted. Peter London [email protected] www.peterburke.ca <http://www.peterburke.ca/> _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
