Subject: [Tweeters] American? Golden Plover at Fort Flagler Spit
Date: Nov 11 22:45:43 2012
From: Doug Schurman - doug at bodyresults.com


Today on a Seattle Audubon field trip around the Port Townsend area we found
a Golden Plover that sounds like the one found by Admiralty Audubon
yesterday.



The bird was not skittish and was not bothered by a dozen people watching it
from 20 yards or so. Our initial examination let us to believe this was an
American Golden Plover. I was able to capture several pictures and study the
detail tonight against the Sibley description and pictures. Here are some
pictures with my thoughts on why it seems to be an American rather that
Pacific.



This pictures shows a pretty good sized primary projection consistent with
an American Golden Plover and differing from a Pacific Golden Plover.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlebirdman/8177969643/in/photostream



In this picture you can see 4 primaries extending past the tertials. Pacific
would only have 3 past.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlebirdman/8177998478/in/photostream



Top of the head and back side.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlebirdman/8178000850/in/photostream



Overall view

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlebirdman/8177972365/in/photostream



All comments and critiques are welcome.



Doug Schurman

NE Seattle