ML618762868

Age and sex

Adult Female - 1

Media notes

#3 cropped version

Observation details

On May 20, any Golden-Plover should be well into alternate plumage. This bird shows characteristics of European Golden-Plover: a wide, unbroken white flank, very white under-tail coverts, white rear belly and a modest bill (in 2nd photo compare with the bill on BBPL with head turned). SEASONAL and specific 2012 DISCUSSION: On eBird there are only four individual AMGP reports in Nova Scotia in May, ever, outside of Cape Sable Island (and excluding this bird). There would be hundreds from the “fall” migration. So while AMGP is the "expected" spring species, perhaps less so than we would have guessed. This May 20, 2012 bird and one on the Avalon Pen. on April 30, 2012 are the only “AMGP" reports NE of Mass. for the entire April-June, 2012 period. There were no European Golden-Plover reports in Apr-Jun, 2012 in North America but there was one on May 18, 2012 in the Azores. It was on the NW-most island, Corvo, which is actually ~40% of the way from Portugal or Africa to NS i.e. Corvo is west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This 2012 report is one of two May records, as of 2024, for all of the Azores, some of which are considerably closer to Portugal. This report, two days before this record, is an amazing coincidence. Recently (2022) two experts have written that this bird is probably an American Golden-Plover. But at least one states that "golden-plover" is suitable for this bird.

Technical information

Model

DMC-FZ40

ISO

160

Focal length

108 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

1359 pixels x 1239 pixels

Original file size

797.13 KB