Hi Tweets,

Just a quick request to anyone who sees the Great Knot (Calidris
tenuirostris) at Iona Island, would you be kind enough to try to age it if
possible and post your thoughts on its age, as this is an important part of
the eventual record of this occurrence? Going on wintering shorebird
percentages, it's got a good chance of being a first-year bird.

Here's the quick 'n dirty from Guide to the identification and ageing of
Holarctic Waders, by Prater et al:

WP (Winter Plumage)
Mantle and coverts grey; outer coverts edged paler grey, inners edged white.
Underparts white, with breast finely streaked and spotted pale brown, etc.

IW (Immature Winter)
As Ad WP but some brownish coverts with pale buff tips (these would be
retained Juv-patterned coverts--M) , especially inner medians (this for
banders--non-banding birders can ignore)--M, are retained to spring. Tertial
are patterned as coverts but these also are lost by early spring.
White-tipped Juv primaries wear rapidly...etc.

Has it been seen since its initial sightings? More importantly, was it
confirmed?

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)