Hello Tweets,

The following was posted on Oregon Birders On-Line the 22nd of December:

Ted Kenefick
Seattle, WA
tedk at nwlink.com



Subject: RBA:Mountain Plover
From: Gary Fredricks <fredricks at WORLDACCESSNET.COM>
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 23:58:32 -0800


I just returned from a day trip to the SE Washington coast where I got a
very good look at a MOUNTAIN PLOVER at Ft. Canby State Park about 9:30
am today. The bird was with several Sanderlings on the beach about 200
yards north of the north Columbia River jetty. I watched the bird for
about 10 minutes at distances down to 10 feet before a nasty squall and
the high tide forced everything on the beach to head for safer ground.
I could not relocate the bird 20 minutes later but there is a lot of
habitat here. This bird was in typical basic plumage with a rufous
tinge to the upper parts that indicate it may have been an adult. The
underparts were buff to white, the tail was a little lighter than the
back with a broad dark subterminal band. The back of the neck was
lighter than either the back or head and the head had a distinct darker
crown and buffy supercilium. The bill was black and legs were gray. In
flight the bird showed a fairly distinct white bars in the wings,
possibly the base of the primaries, similar but not nearly as distinct
as the accompanying Sanderlings. The most notable thing was the initial
impression the bird lacked any field characteristics (other than it was
an obvious plover) until you looked closer. I hope others get a chance
to see this bird.

Gary Fredricks
Washougal, WA