Just to clarify, this bird was found by birders who were coincidentally at the East Pond as part of the Great South Bay Audubon field trip. It stood out as being very different, so they photographed it and, when the crowd thinned out enough, pointed it out to the festival folks to get their opinions.
Mike Cooper Ridge, NY Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 27, 2018, at 3:09 PM, Steve Walter <swalte...@verizon.net> wrote: > > I’ve posted pictures of an interesting Calidris sandpiper that has been on > the East Pond at Jamaica Bay. It was first photographed by Peter Post on > Saturday and observed by Kevin Karlson (co-author of The Shorebird Guide). I > was able to relocate and photograph the bird on Sunday, then discuss it with > Kevin. He’s of the opinion that it’s a hybrid between Western and > Semipalmated Sandpipers. In simplest terms, he described it as having the > upperparts of a Semipalmated and the underparts of a Western. The bird is > extensively marked underneath, not only along the flanks, but on the belly. > Semipalmated would never be like that. And actually, neither species should > be so extensively marked this late. The bill looks like that of a > Semipalmated, while the head shows a squared look more typical of a Western. > Pictures can be seen at my web site http://stevewalternature.com/ under > Birds, Recent Work. > > For the record, other weekend birds at Jamaica Bay other than the much > ballyhooed Hudsonian Godwit, include 1 Caspian Tern on the pond Saturday and > 2 fly bys Sunday, at least one juvenile Western Sandpiper both days, many > White-rumped Sandpipers, and Stilt Sandpiper now starting to appear in the > juvenile form. A Common Raven was seen by many, soaring over the visitor > center Saturday. > > The water level is decidedly on the high side, but there’s enough room for > birds and people. Getting to the raunt requires walking through water in > places. Note that the safest passage is sometimes well away from the edge of > the pond. There are two deeper puddles that reach the phragmites in the > southeast corner. Do not walk along their edges. And also watch out for the > Salt Marsh Fleabane, if you can. These plants are in full bloom now and > adding a touch of beauty to the pond. And if you pay close enough attention > to the bright pink flowers, you just might be rewarded with the sight of a > Salt Marsh Skipper. > > > Steve Walter > Bayside, NY > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- 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/ --
