ML34699711

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

***Mega - found earlier in day or previous day - transitional adult European Golden-Plover| Bird was discovered earlier today (10 Oct. 2008) or possibly earlier in the Scarborough Marsh, Maine by Lyle Brinker. This constitutes the first documented record for the lower forty-eight United States! The bird is frequenting the salt marsh and associated pans to the southeast of Eastern Road, a dirt walking/bike trail through the marsh. Rick Heil and I traveled there this afternoon and were able to relocate the bird and obtain a number of close photographs. The rather brightly spangled plover is slightly larger and distinctly shorter-winged than an American Golden-Plover with a chunky rather 'pot-bellied' look at times. In flight the underwings are strikingly gleaming white. The bird called each time it took flight, a soft, plain, single syllabled "puue". A remarkable New England record, but one that has been long anticipated, although I thought it would come in April or May, as an overshoot of a Newfoundland flight.

Technical information

Original file size

5.24 MB