I received my first correction on winter Westerns in about
1976 from the most generous and patient Al Prigge of Eugene.

I hope that somebody actually goes to Magnusen Park and looks
for these shorebirds, just in cases there's a new lesson to
be learned, but I agree that the birds were probably not
Westerns....

My experience with Western Sandpipers is that they a very rare
in winter and when found, usually they are mixed in with Dunlin or
Sanderlings. A pure flock of Westerns would be very rare indeed.
I have been going over the 2001 CBC data in my capacity as
Regional Editor. All Western reported were coastal and the ratio
of Western/Dunlin was between 5/100 and 10/100.

Any winter report of Western Sandpiper that does not include a
larger number of Dunlin or Sanderlings is going to send up flags
for us ancient bird counters. And we have the choice of letting
these possible mistakes go unchallenged or we can try to seek
more information and when necessary, correct them.

And as hard as I try to be diplomatic, cautious and kind, I have
yet to discover a way of examining anamolous reports that does
hurt somebodies feelings... if not the actual observer, then somebody
else who got questioned last year and still feels bruised....

--
Mike Patterson When I despair, I remember
Astoria, OR that all through history
celata at pacifier.com the way of truth and love have always won.
There have been tyrants, and murderers,
and for a time they can seem invincible,
but in the end they always fall.
Think of it...always.
- Mahatma Gandhi

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html