** Reply to note from Dennis P. (who is still missed on this list) -

>
> This is in response to a discussion about sandpiper leg colors.
>
> >One observation of
> >mine that I'll send your way (perhaps you've noticed it too ... but I've
> >not read about it in the standard field guides) is that immature American
> >Pipits can have dull pink legs (and in some cases rather bright pink
> >depending on lighting) when they first come off the breeding grounds ... I
> >suspect they darken considerably by the time they reach the wintering
> >grounds. But it is a potential source of confusion for leg-colour oriented
> >pipit-watchers.
> >
> >kind regards,
> >Cameron

Yep. When Mark Phinney moved out to P.G. from New Brunswick years ago, his first
alpine trip into the local mountains netted him photos of what he thought may
have been one of the Eurasian pipits. Turned out it was just a young Am. Pipit,
pink legs and all. We learned something that day...

- Jack

Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jbowling at direct.ca