ML42879201

Age and sex

Immature Unknown sex - X

Observation details

This bird was first discovered by Jack & Ryan Bushong on December 16. It was foraging in a small rocky stream (Iron Springs Creek?) in the south western corner of the Blue River Arm of Dillon Reservoir, approximately 800 feet northeast of where Iron Spring Road intersects SH 9. A plump shorebird, somewhat reminiscent of a Black-bellied Plover in stockiness, although smaller. Its behavior was typical "rockpiper", foraging by steadily walking, sometimes picking at the surface, but often dipping its entire head into the water. It often hopped from rock to rock, and twice was observed actually swimming. The head and breast were slate gray, making its white eye-ring quite distinctive. It also had a white supraloral spot in front of the eye. The medium-length bill drooped slightly, and was orange at the base, fading to gray throughout most of its length, and black at the tip. The upperparts were gray and the coverts and tertials were fringed with white suggesting that this was a first winter bird. The belly was white with heavily streaked flanks, and undertail coverts were white. The legs were bright yellowish-orange. See the attached photos.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

320

Focal length

300 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/400 sec

Dimensions

3334 pixels x 2222 pixels

Original file size

1.01 MB