In a recent post it was said “Shorebirds are not easy.” Yep.
I’ll admit to a modicum of embarrassment at getting this ID wrong. Having said so, multiple field guides refer to a field mark of white rump, which I saw well, but upon which I apparently placed undeserved weight. Well if you can't trust a field guide...
Of course with a potential rarity the question becomes does one wait until you are > 100% certain, or do you get the info out right away. Some said parse the post with caveats such as “possible” or other pull-backs; Its just that at the time everyone present concurred on the ID. Doesn't excuse the animus.
In other posts, the age, overall shape, and molt have been suggested as taking precedence over what I heretofore felt is an 'obvious' field mark, *if* seen well. Those other elements require far greater study IMHO though.
A reference web page was proffered regarding this “ID Challenge”. Careless readers, perhaps including myself, might stop at the top of the page where it states that a previous instance was ultimately decided because of, wait for it, the white rump!
The page contains valuable information though arguably as explained above, interjects a bit of confusion.
Hopefully, an actual Curlew Sandpiper will show up and more hopefully, I will be the one to find it ( and correctly ID it )
In that event, be on the lookout for a posting where the species listed is 'Wolf' <g>
Arie North Babylon, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
