Tweets,



Thanks Bob, Tom, and Ryan for the discovery and ID and to Paul for the
prompt posting. Nancy and I were on I-5 near Castle Rock on our way home
from a month-long road trip to California when Nancy spotted the notice on
her Blackberry. We decided a detour was in order, called Bob on his cell to
verify that the bird was at that moment in the scopes, took the US 12 cutoff
to Elma and were at the Tonquin entrance by 3:55 PM. A beautiful bird long
overdue for the state. Given that the three initial observers are all
members of the WBRC it seems highly likely to be quickly accepted for the
state list, not to mention the big photographic guns aimed in its direction
on a beautiful sunny evening.



I got home and looked it up in my various shorebird books to make sure it
couldn't possibly have been a Greater Sand-Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
which was recorded in California in 2001. First of all, the Greater
Sand-Plover molts before migrating while the Lesser Sand-Plover, aka
Mongolian Plover (Charadrius mongolus), molts on the wintering ground. So
the fact this bird still retails much of it's alternate plumage colors and
pattern strongly supports the Lesser Sand-Plover option. Also, the broad
orange breast band showed a narrow dark upper margin, characteristic of
Lesser as opposed to Greater Sand-Plovers. Plus it seems more the
appropriate size and shape for the Lesser as opposed to the larger, heavier
Greater Sand-Plover. And, of course, Lesser Sand-Plover is far more likely
on biogeographical grounds. I would hazard a guess the bird is a male given
the brightness of the coloration and sharp patterning on the face.



Gene Hunn

Lake Forest Park

enhunn323 at comcast.net



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Paul Hicks
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 12:52 PM
To: , tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] MONGOLIAN PLOVER at Ocean Shores, Oyehut GR, Tonquin
access



Tweets, Bob Sundstrom with three other birders found a MONGOLIAN / LESSER
SAND PLOVER (Charadrius mongolus) 12:30pm Thursday at the "Tonquin Pond"
beyond the "radar tower" at the Tonquin St access to the Oyehut Game Range
in Ocean Shores. It appears to be an adult with a nice rusty breast. Bob's
cell: 360-561-5049. This may be a first state record.
-- Paul Hicks / phicks AT accessgrace.org