ML465420311

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Photos. We were driving down the beach checking on Snowy Plover nests for work and being distracted by migrant sandpipers. As we stopped to check a nest I noticed a medium sized plover fly away from us in the fog. The tail pattern was dark tipped and similar to Semipalmated Plover. It felt off for that species so I got us closer (in vehicle) and as soon as it turned I knew it was Sand-Plover. I immediately got the camera for some record shots. The photos were poor and the bird flew north so I turned around and went that direction. In flight the bird gave a distinctive call note that was clearly different than Semipalmated. We relocated it maybe 100-200 m north of the trailhead and got more photos and video. I considered Greater SP as well but it was clear that the bill was not substantial enough for that species. We took several more photos and a short video then had to get back to work. We alerted the various RBAs. On our way north the fog had lifted and we hoped we would encounter the bird again, but alas it appeared that it had left the area. The bird appears to be a male in fading alternate plumage. Identification is pretty straight forward with the white throat and rufous breast. No other North American species look anything like this and G SP was safely eliminated.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P950

ISO

125

Focal length

285 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/250 sec

Dimensions

3267 pixels x 2445 pixels

Original file size

1.34 MB