ML262539331

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

**Rare** I found the nonbreeding bird about 25 yards or so down Game Reserve Road just off Deal Island rd. I spotted the bird swimming in the open along the road and immediately noted the light color and it spinning in circles. For the next hour or so I watched it feeding among the grasses by the road sometimes coming within 20 feet of me. Lighter gray back with dark coverts and primaries. Bill was shorter and visually thicker at the base compared to the more needle-like bill of RNPH. Base of the bill was also a light orange color and eye stripe was wider past the eye making an almost triangle behind the eye, further distinguishing from the solid black bill and thinner, straight eyeline of RNPH. I watched it feed on insects and watched it catch several spiders before it worked its way back into the grasses about 50 feet from the road. It appeared to be molting still and had hints of red all down the front of the throat, which was pretty cool to see. Still present when I left

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

Lens

200.0-500.0 mm f/5.6

ISO

400

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

2249 pixels x 1508 pixels

Original file size

1.45 MB