ML113655091

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

***Mega. Originally the large, broad supercilium stood out on this bird, so further investigation was warranted. The thick black lores reaching below the gape was the next feature noticed, followed by the presence of a black instead of yellow orbital. The breast band was clearly very heavy compared to most nearby male Semipalmated Plovers. Other subtle features were scrutinized, but not as readily apparent. Eventually we were able to further confirm this bird’s identity by viewing the webbing between the toes, which extended perhaps only a couple millimeters between the outer toe and middle two, and was completely absent between the inner toe and middle toe. Nearby Semipalmated Plovers clearly possessed more extensive webbing between the toes. The experience of discovering this individual differed from that of the Common Ringed Plover exactly two weeks prior in the Powder Hole on Monomoy NWR (https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47955163). For example, the back and cap coloration did not stand out as immediately obviously paler and grayer on this South Beach bird as it did on the Powder Hole bird (https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/111556361). Instead, this bird appeared much warmer brown, and the tone barely contrasted. In addition, this individual appeared very close to the same size as nearby Semipalmated Plovers; this bird was slightly larger. In contrast, the individual from the Powder Hole was immediately obviously larger, often almost a head taller when standing adjacent to a Semipalmated Plover. Some further minor differences between these two individuals, which perhaps? could be a result of a difference of two weeks, are as follows: the black band across the forehead is thicker on the South Beach bird than the Powder Hole bird; the white forehead and supercilium clearly connected above the eye on the South Beach bird, but was disjunct on the Powder Hole bird; the orange at the base of the bill was more extensive on the Powder Hole bird than on the South Beach bird. Both are adult males with worn coverts. The bird never vocalized, it was skittish relative to the Semipalmated Plovers, and it often was disassociated from the clusters of sleeping Semipalmated Plovers.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

320

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/2000 sec

Dimensions

2163 pixels x 1442 pixels

Original file size

1.89 MB