All, Based on yesterdays photographs and subsequent descriptions, I am posing the question and possibility that there are two new Ruffs at Jamaica Bay's East Pond.
The bird photographed by Andrew Baksh (also the one I photographed and observed) seems to be different from the bird photographed and studied by Ken and Sue Fuestel. Ken's photo shows a bird with an obvious white feathered base at it's bill. So crisp and clear that it suggests a ring, apparent in many studied photos of male Ruffs. Second, Ken's bird also appears to have darker individual breast/chest feathers. The bird I reported (Andrew's photographs) did not at all suggest a larger size, to me at least. I actually thought it seemed quite comparable to the surrounding dows. I fully understand that size is all relative and is probably not the best way to firm an ID. The bird that I studied seemed lighter chested with sparse splotches of black in comparison to Ken's photographed, darker chested individual. Rather than trying to decipher whether or not this/these birds are male or female, I'm most interested in whether or not there are 2 birds out there. Many birders have chimed in agreeing that both photographed birds look like separate individuals. The links for Ken and Andrews photos are here: http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/kfeustel/7699635862/in/photostream/ http://birdingdude.blogspot.com/2012/08/4th-ruff-at-jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge.html?m=1 Thanks to Ken and Andrew for these good photos. Keep a keen, cautious eye out for 2 Ruffs if you are birding the East Pond. Best, Derek Rogers Sayville -- 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/ --