I have been surprised this year by the number of encounters I have had with Upland Sandpipers in Humboldt County and in s. Kossuth County, especially being that this is the first year of observing them in either county. In Humboldt County have even seen display flights which suggests possible breeding. Today along the Humboldt/Kossuth Co. frontier (100th street and Colorado/30th ave) I had two Upland Sandpipers that had what looked like down on their breasts and stomach, and a third individual that flushed from the roadside. I presume that the two downier individuals are young from a nest-site? The down was confined to their chests and ventral side and seemed to be just remnants...and they seemed almost completely fledged into adult plumage. Also today I saw an Upland Sandpiper on C28 two miles East of Bradgate, standing on a fence post. Otherwise it has been quiet, with only a Solitary Sandpiper hanging out at the sheetwaters so far.
Jacob Newton Ottosen, Humboldt Co., IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
