Posted by Alex on August 09, 2003 at 22:10:56:
In Reply to: Migrants posted by Alex on August 09, 2003 at 17:00:06:
Ellie found a Western Sandpiper in Crandon Park yesterday. She said it was on the northern most part of the park where the beach becomes a rocky shoreline near mangroves and can be over-looked by the Osprey boardwalk. It was feeding with Sanderlings and 2 Least Sandpipers, she said. She got great digital photos of the bird in breeding plumage and it was easy to identify it as a Western Sandpiper with it's reddish brown cheek, crown and wing. Of course the black legs said no to Least and the streaked breast also helped i.d.
The bird was side-by-side with the Least Ssandpiper pair showing not much size differance, but sizable bill differance as the Western's bill was obviously bigger than the Least's. Plus who knows what shorebirds fly south from Flamingo, Everglades at dusk and late afternoon in winter. The obviously roost on the islands out there. They were seen on one of the park's boats they lead a few miles out from the harbor. Thanks.
I would also like to add that Felipe saw 3 lifers today:
Bald Eagle- 3
Common Tern-3
Common Eider- about 20 in flock a couple miles out at sea.