I got a call last night from George Mayfield mentioning that he had seen a
Golden Plover at the Ridgefield Refuge. I then opened an e-mail this
morning from Wilson Cady saying he thought, after driving out to take a look
last night, that the Plover was a Pacific Golden Plover. I went out there
this morning at about 6:15, found the Plover on Schwartz Lake and took some
pictures. I met Joe Engler, the Refuge Biologist, and then later Arden
Hagen. I had to leave a little later, but when I left, the feeling, at
least, between Joe and myself was that it was a Pacific Golden Plover. I
didn't hear Arden's opinion. There is more white on the left flank than the
right flank, but there is definitly white there which points to a Pacific.
The bill seems to be longer than an American's, and the call which we heard
points to a Pacific. I have some pictures which are from a bit of distance
and can be seen beginning at
http://lumiscapephotography.smugmug.com/gallery/1105634#162179806 There are
five pictures so keep going to the last one.

Roger Windemuth
roger at windemuths.com