Subject: [Tweeters] leucistic Dunlin in O. Shores
Date: Oct 18 15:29:59 2010
From: Dianna Moore - dlmoor2 at coastaccess.com


Hey Tweets....Out on the beach at the Pacific Ave access at 12:30PM today I
saw approx 6,000 Dunlin in three large groups, with one that stood out like
the proverbial sore thumb for its all-over whiteness...a leucistic Dunlin.
It had dark eyes but the plumage was nearly white. They were resting, with
bills tucked under a wing and standing on one leg. It was startling enough
for me to dash home for my camera and attempt to photograph it.

When I returned other Dunlin had moved in front of it, blocking a clear
shot, then they all flushed when a peregrine appeared and made several
(unsuccessful) stoops on the flock. They all headed north out of sight while
I tried to see if I had a good photo. I'm having trouble downloading the
photos onto my computer so won't know for a while if I got it.

There were also 23 Black-bellied Plovers, mostly juveniles, a few Western
Sandpipers, and 1 Sanderling running through the mob of Dunlin...very
odd-looking in that group (because I seldom see them intermix).

Dianna Moore
Ocean Shores, WA.
dlmoor2 at coastaccess.com