Aug 20
[BIRDWG01] Azores Calidris
I happened to have the issue of Birdwatch that Marshall referenced handy, so I have scanned and posted the photo. No photo editing or processing was applied.
Phil DavisDate: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:06:15 -0400
From: Marshall Iliff <marshall.iliff@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Azores Calidris
To: BIRDWG01@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU All, This thread reminded me of an Azores "record" that I have been curious
about for some time. The October 2006 issue of "Birdwatch" (which I
don't subscribe to, but happened across once) has a very cool article
by Peter Alfrey describing the Nearctic fallout on Corvo in October
2005 (associated with Hurricane Wilma). It included discussion of the
first Palearctic White-eyed Vireo and Hooded Warbler records, among
loads of other cool stuff (with many photos) including a massive
Chimney Swift fallout. In that article is a color photo of a trio of Calidris, labeled: "A
trio of Yank calidrids. From left: White-rumped, Semipalmated, and
Least Sandpipers, Cabo de Praia quarry, Terceira." The photo is by
Peter Alfrey. It is an undated photo, and it is unclear to me which,
if any, record this refers to in the Azores database
( http://www.birdingazores.com/index.php?page=rarebirdref&id=549#NotFirst ).
I don't have an easy means to scan it now, but perhaps someone else
does? It is an excellent color photo and while the White-rumped and Least
Sandpipers appear to be correctly identified, the Semipalmated looks
to me like a straightforward Little Stint based on the thin straight
bill, split supercililium, breast pattern, and overall structure. I am
curious if anyone else has seen this photo and questioned the ID, and
whether this worked its way into the official Azores records or not. I
expect someone here would have an answer, but I reach dead ends with
even trying to figure out the date on this photo. Not that another opinion is needed on this one, but I too agree on
Semipalmated for the bird that started this thread. Best, Marshall
