Subject: [Tweeters] LESSER SAND PLOVER relocated
Date: Aug 23 21:17:58 2015
From: Scott - scottratkinson at hotmail.com


Tweeters:

This morning in foggy conditions I was able to manage a brief view of the LESSER SAND PLOVER at about 8:15 am. I ran into a group of of birders walking south (one fellow was named Bill Langford) and proceeded south of them. Viewing was difficult in the foggy conditions, but I did see the orangy breast and sides of neck, contrasting white throat, and slightly larger size than Semi Plover, and when a Western Sand came alongside, the bird was a taller and longer-legged. The bird first appeared in a small group of Semi Plovers walking away; the typical plover feeding style was evident. This bird was apparently a bit south of other sightings near the State Park access; there was a prominent dead Ling Cod head on the driven north-south track, this bird was about 300 yards south, in a fragmented flock of a few Semi Plovers and Western Sands, and a larger number of Sanderlings. I quickly started setting up my scope to obtain photos, but having lost a lower leg of the tripod, it took me about 30 seconds to set up. Of course when I looked for the plover, some of the flock had flown--including the plover. So, no photo.

Other birds of interest: among the many dead COM. MURRES, I found an apparent ad. THICK-BILLED MURRE. Photos (two) have just been uploaded:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/14115261 at N05/

A careful look reveals a thin white gape line coming in over the top mandible of the bill. Note that the bill is also thicker than for Com. Murre. The bird was black above, but this is not so easy to detect in the poor condition of the plumage (the bird was already well into decomposition).

There was at least one other interesting bird, a SAVANNAH SPARROW that was as dark as any I've ever seen. It was in the dunes (near Elymus mollis, Elephant Grass) and I photographed it also, but the facing view doesn't capture the upperparts. The bird was so dark brown on the upperparts I thought it was a SONG SPARROW when it first flushed. I flushed again (when it called) before I snapped a couple low-quality shots, which are also among the most recent 8 shots on the URL given above.

The list from the Quinalt Casino Access this morning will be posted to EBird.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at Hotmail.com