ML125672981

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

***mega; 2nd MA & ~5th East Coast; ad (fem?); Flew in off ocean giving high, fluid, "kleee-oo-wee" call, that sounded vaguely Black-bellied-like, but yet all wrong. Still expecting Black-bellied, I scanned overhead for it and spotted a Pluvialis with all-gray underwings and called out "golden-plover"!. As soon as I said it I started to process the fact that it may not actually be an *American* , and realizing it was Jul (on the early end of AMGP migration, but with at least some precedent (DE 1988) for PAGP, I instantly wanted to refresh my memory on the call of Pacific. I pulled out my iPhone, quickly searched for the call of PAGP, and had it playing within 10 seconds, which may have helped to prompt the bird to land on the flats. Once on the ground, it was apparent that this was no AMGP: the tibia were long, the bill was long, and the bird was overall lanky. The gold spots above were quite rich and large. The white flank stripe continued even width along the full length of the flanks, and even as these details were sinking in, the call was playing on my iPhone and I realized it was a perfect match for Pacific. I called it out to the group and almost immediately the birds flushed (it had landed among SESA and SAND) and flew a bit closer, but then landed and gave us a 4 min study. During this time, the very long tertials and very short primary projection, as well as the faint golden wash to the face, became apparent. Luke called Ian and Jess, who had walked up the beach, and told them to hurry down. The plover always looked restless and made one aborted flight. Just before Ian arrived all the birds took flight and it circled us silently and flew off to the W, breaking away from the group. I played the call again and either because of that or of its own accord, it flew back towards us. When within 200m I stopped playing and the bird flew past giving a few soft mellow 'klew' and 'kle-wie' notes before giving at least one good 'kleee-oo-we' (aborted at end) call as it dropped back in again. Matt, Tim, and Jeremiah were recording (iPhones) and got diagnostic call notes. Ian and Jess got looks this time, but it didn't stay long, as it flushed again and this time headed off to the south silently. As it disappeared towards the mainland it joined with four other shorebirds, possibly dowitchers. all told. its time on the beach was only about 4-5 minutes. Later photo review of the bird in flight reveals white undertail coverts and toes projecting past the tail tip.

Technical information

Dimensions

3264 pixels x 2448 pixels

Original file size

566.73 KB