Hi all stint watchers,

Here's the latest from Killian, from over the pond on the identification of
the Yakima River delta shorebird (aka wader or stint).

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie at nwinfo.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Killian Mullarney" <kmullarney at eircom.net>
To: "Andy Stepniewski" <steppie at nwinfo.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 12:14 PM
Subject: Re: Yakima Delta Stint identification


> Hi Andy,
>
> If my brain had been a little more alert last night I might have been more
> cautious about offering to make a short list of important id features....
>
> Now that I take a closer look at these images I am seeing what you
> obviously noticed straight away - they certainly aren't all that crisp and
> clear!
>
> I fear that most of the points that immediately make me think this is a
LIST
> and not a RNST have to do with rather subtle 'jizzy' characters, which
> analysed individually, from these very fuzzy images may not be very
> convincing, but COLLECTIVELY add up (at least in my mind's eye) to a
certain
> LIST!
>
> I suspect that at a higher resolution these images might show much more
> detail, for example the precise nature of the streaking on the bird's
> foreparts, but from these low-res images I have to 'interpret' quite a
bit;
> this would cause me some concern if it weren't for the fact that the
> subliminal clues point so convincingly to LIST!
>
> I have annotated a couple of the images (rather crudely I'm afraid) to
show
> you what I think I can see that makes me believe this is a Little Stint.
> High-resolution images will surely show much more, and I trust the State
> records committee will be provided with these!
>
> Killian

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andy Stepniewski" <steppie at nwinfo.net>
> To: "Killian Mullarney" <kmullarney at eircom.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 5:09 AM
> Subject: Re: Yakima Delta Stint identification
>
>
> > Hi Killian,
> >
> > Thanks! You know, a very short list of important id marks might be
useful,
> > as few of us have much experience with this species, let alone the
> plumage.
> > Though the field guides elucidate the structural and plumage differences
> > betweem RNST and LIST, these photos are not all crisp and bright and
those
> > dang pixels don't help!
> >
>> Now, I'm gonna "hit the sack," which I'm certain you say as much as we
do
> > "the real McCoy."
> >
> > Cheers!
> >
> > Andy
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Killian Mullarney" <kmullarney at eircom.net>
> > To: "Andy Stepniewski" <steppie at nwinfo.net>
> > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 4:19 PM
> > Subject: Re: Yakima Delta Stint identification
> >
> >
> > > Hi Andy, and Ellen - nice to hear from you.
> > >
> > > This will just be a very brief reply before I hit the sack (as we say
> > > here!), I've been up since 5am the last three mornings and I can
hardly
> > keep
> > > my eyes open, never mind my brain functioning...
> > >
> > > I looked at the stint pics yesterday and I wholeheartedly concur with
> the
> > > views already expressed by others - this bird is a classic Little
Stint.
> > If
> > > required, or useful, I could make a short list of the most important
id
> > > points...but as I say, my brain needs to be a little more alert than
it
> is
> > > right now!
> > >
> > > I'm enjoying following the progress of moulting 2nd cal-year
> Short-billed
> > > Dowitcher which I found locally on the last day of June... a very rare
> > bird
> > > on this side of the Atlantic, this is only about the fifith for
Europe..
> > >
> > >
> > > With very best wishes..
> > >
> > > Killian
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Andy Stepniewski" <steppie at nwinfo.net>
> > > To: "Killian Mullarney" <kmullarney at eircom.net>
> > > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 7:37 PM
> > > Subject: Fw: Yakima Delta Stint identification
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hello Killian,
> > > >
> > > > Would you care to weigh in on the id of this stint, first identified
> as
> > a
> > > > Red-necked? The photos were taken 2nd week of August in Washington
> > state.
> > > > Either Little or Red-necked would be new for the state.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > >
> > > > Andy Stepniewski
> > > > Wapato WA
> > > > steppie at nwinfo.net
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Bill and Nancy LaFramboise (by way of Denny Granstrand
> > > > <dgranstrand at charter.net>)" <wlafra at owt.com>
> > > > To: <steppie at nwinfo.net>
> > > > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 7:59 AM
> > > > Subject: Yakima Delta Stint identification
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Birders,
> > > > >
> > > > > After reviewing excellent photos taken by Tom Munson, we had
> concerns
> > > > about the id of the Yakima Delta stint as a Red-necked Stint. The
> > > spotting
> > > > was mostly contained within the rufous area. The leg length, the
> rufous
> > > > tertials and greater coverts, and the scapular marks had bothered us
> all
> > > > along. These are characteristics shown by Little Stint.
> > > > >
> > > > > Tom's photos are now posted with his permission at
> > > > http://photos.yahoo.com/arctic_warbler
> > > > >
> > > > > We sent a message to ID Frontiers and the initial responses are
> > > supportive
> > > > for Little Stint.
> > > > >
> > > > > Bill & Nancy
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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