>Dear Dennis,
>
> Thank you for your comments regarding the Mongolian Plover
>report. It came to light that other birders had seen a Semipalmated
>Sandpiper the previous day at these lagoons with a splotched pattern of
>oil (or something like that) on the head!

This is a message I just got from an eastern bird-records committee member,
about a shorebird sighting that was alleged to be a Mongolian Plover. I
feel a bit miffed that I carefully responded to the description, when it
turns out it was a common bird (associating with birds of the same species,
with which it was compared [for example, "slightly taller," "bill thicker
but no longer"]) that was readily turned into a megararity by what were
said to be *moderately experienced* birders!

That's the aspect of present-day birding that never fails to discourage me.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416
web site: http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html