ML46847791

Age and sex

Juvenile, Unknown sex - X

Media notes

Ruff - Queen Anne's County MD.

Observation details

****RARE - found earlier in the day by Harry Armistead. Observed with Dan Small and Maren Gimpel for at least 15 minutes. In a flooded corn field. About the same size as the LEYE it was associating with, but plumper and rounder; both the back and belly were round; medium-length, blunt, black bill; brown cap and light supercilium and indistinct darker postocular line; pale cheek; above: dark (brown or black) feathers surrounded by crisp, pale fringes - gave overall impression of brown; front of neck and breast had a pale wash - couldn't tell exactly what color because of the light; further down things got paler; large white areas surrounded a dark central rump - these were visible when the bird took a brief flight and while it preened. It was picking at the top of the corn stubble, and generally belly deep in the water. We lost track of it after a Peregrine flew over. I think it's a juvenile because of the overall brownish color and crisp fringing. Hopefully someone will see it in better light tomorrow. While we were watching, it was overcast and daylight was fading.  [added photo 11/28/2012 - digiscoped; Ruff just left of Ring-billed Gull; Lesser Yellowlegs far left. Sorry - crappy light and distance.]

Technical information

Dimensions

800 pixels x 287 pixels

Original file size

120.76 KB