I should have posted this message some time ago when I first saw the bird and
wondered about its true identity.

When birding in Tofino, (west coast Vancouver Island) a month ago, I saw what
I thought was a semipalmated plover at the Tofino airport. Immediately, I
wondered whether it might be a ringed plover since it was already record late
for the area and it was in basic plumage ( a plumage we do not see here). I
have since seen the bird on two more occasions and was very surprised to see
it again on Nov. 10 Each time that I have seen the bird, I have convinced
myself that it is a semipalmated plover (convinced that I would be able to
recognize a ringed plover if I saw one). I should have left it at that,
however with the bit of research I have done, I find myself less impressed
with my knowledge and skill as I discover that the differences between these
two species may be subtle enough that the bird could be a ringed plover and I
will have to wait until next weekend before I see the bird again. The
challenge I find with the reading is that I become more confused as I read
(trying to remember what details I had noticed)and I kick myself for not
making scrupulous notes about the bird as I looked at it.
I still think the bird is a semipalmated plover ( it seems to me that I
heard it call on one occasion and its call fit that of semipalmated, but
in afterthought I really wonder...) but I have learned through this little
exercise that I should not assume that I might be able to detect subtle
differences in similar looking species (especially when I am not familiar
with the other species).

It is one thing to be able to question the identity of a species instead of
assuming that it is the regularly occurring species but it is quite another
to be able to convincingly identify the bird to species.


--
Cheers,

Don Cecile
Port Alberni, B.C. Canada
dcecile at cln.etc.bc.ca.