ML618381143

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Identified in the field on 2 May as an apparent Pacific Golden-Plover and reported as such via email to a local birder, and eBirded at that time as golden-plover sp. to get the word out more widely. The original notes from 2 May are included without any modification below, at the end of the species comments. Additional notes were added on 6 May after review of additional photos, including an underwing shot, which further confirmed the identification. These comments are retained without change immediately following the present paragraph. On May 9 we changed the identification in eBird from golden-plover sp. to Pacific Golden-Plover, based on the analyses detailed on 2 & 6 May, along with several additional supporting characters suggested by people intimately familiar with European and Pacific Golden-Plovers. The identification analysis is summarized here (writing on 11 May): This Pluvialis plover is clearly not Black-bellied based on the absence of black in the axillaries, much smaller size, bright golden color above in a non-juvenile individual, and brown rump. It is clearly not a European Golden-Plover based on its grayish underwings, very small size relative to Black-bellied Plover, notably long legs (ankles visible above water deep enough to come up to the belly of a Dunlin), extensively white forehead, black-spotted undertail coverts, and the large size of the bright gold spots on the upperparts and gold bars on the tertials (the last point suggested by MOB). It differs from the very similar and closely related American Golden-Plover in numerous ways which are furthermore all characteristic of Pacific Golden-Plover. In fact, we were quickly convinced in the field that the bird was not American, with which we are very familiar, because of its very short primary projection, long tertials, very long legs (ankles visible above water deep enough to come up to the belly of a Dunlin), less delicate overall jizz, and very bright and extensive gold color on the upperparts. All of these points are well supported by the admittedly poor photos, as are several further supporting characters noted by MOB and others: relatively blocky head, relatively large bill, relatively broad dark nape, and other subtle aspects of the shapes of the plumage features. Additional notes 6 May 2024: Additional images of the focal bird, obtained with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 were downloaded and reviewed today, following our return to Long Island from a trip to Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey (the photos included on the original checklist were digiscoped with an iphone 7 hand-held to a Kowa 824 with a 32-wide eyepiece). The Lumix photos were generally even worse than the digiscoped ones, but were collected in case they proved to capture additional information, for instance, corroborating the focal bird's small size relative to adjacent BBPL. They were also shot more or less "blind" in that I couldn't really tell what the subject was doing, or if they were in focus (many were not). To my amazement, one image captures the underwing of the focal bird (which we never saw clearly as we scoped), and others taken within the same minute captured the underwings of a SBDO and a DUNL, enabling comparative interpretation of color, tone, and light in these admittedly very low quality images. Two copies of the image in question are included: one unmodified in any way and one cropped and slightly corrected for excessive highlights, deficient blackpoint, etc. In addition, the image immediately preceding the underwing shot is included unaltered to establish the individual identity of the focal bird in the underwing shot. The underwing appears rather pale in the image, but comparison with reference photos of SBDO and DUNL captured with the same equipment, under the same conditions, and also at 10:16 (see comments under SBDO) supports identification of the focal bird as PAGP, as opposed to EUGP. Notably, the underwing is definitely grayish, definitely darker in the axillaries than on the belly (visible in the reflection also), apparently darker in the axillaries than in the outer underwing (an impression observable on many photos of PAGP and contrary to those for EUGP), and definitely darker (less white-looking) than the underwing of the SBDO, captured at the same time and under the same conditions. At this point the evidence supports identification as Pacific Golden-Plover. The bird's very small size, bright dorsal color, and brown rump exclude Black-bellied Plover. The bright dorsal color, long tertials, and very short primary projection exclude American Golden-Plover. Its very small size, obviously long legs, grayish underwings, extensively white forehead, and black-spotted undertail coverts are not appropriate for European Golden-Plover. Original notes from 1 [should read 2] May, unmodified: Apparent PAGP. Raymond Pool, with other shorebirds, which gradually flew out to the east. Pluvialus plover coming into breeding plumage, with bright golden scapulars and smallish black blotches on breast, belly, and undertail coverts. Distinctly smaller than BBPL, but long-legged, standing as high out of the water as the BBPL. Short primary projection beyond tertials, carefully assessed during prolonged observation in various postures, confirmed from every angle and as the bird preened. This appeared as a small triangle, no longer than it was wide. When preening, the wingtips appeared intact and normal, and the tertials appeared very long and “flapping up in the wind.” Bold and extensively white forehead linking to distinct white supercilium that continued down the neck. Cute, but not as delicate-looking as AMGP. Rump brown, contra BBPL. Aggressive toward BBPL, charging at and displacing them on many occasions, though resting and preening comfortably with others at times. Called many times—unfortunately inaudible. Each call involved a single opening of the mouth and the head was thrust forward. Underwing color never assessed confidently but several glimpses suggested white (!). On the balance, its very small size, obviously long legs, very short primary projection, and extensively white forehead imply PAGP. Reporting as Pluvialis sp. pending review of distant photos.

Technical information

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2349 pixels x 1569 pixels

Original file size

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