Tuesday, 11 September 2012

[Maine-birds] Re: flock o' plovers - Popham

After reviewing my bad digiscoped photos, I changed my report to reflect Plover sp. instead of Am Golden Plover.  It could be a trick of the dawn light, but the caps are simply not dark enough for a good Golden, despite the strong superciliaries.  Actually, the caps looked dark thru the scope, but the photos belie this. 

A flock of 27 Black-bellied Plovers makes much more sense at Popham, despite what the turf farm jockies are finding. 

(However, there was a solo fly-over Am Golden later in the morning at Popham. calling as it went.) 



On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 4:51 PM, Down East Nature Tours <info@downeastnaturetours.com> wrote:
I totally believed you Mike and was only looking to compare the bird and birds I see here on MDI...  I have not yet had a flock of AMGP .. Here on MDI they always seem to come alone and if there are others they are not hanging out in as a flock...  I never question anything you see Mike so know worries...  My bird was an immature looking much like some of the birds in your shots..   thank you very much for taking the time to send these out ... I hope to find sometime tonight to work on pictures.
 
I found and photographed an American Pipit the other day... same day I found the Plover...
 
 
 
Michael 
 
From: Mike Fahay
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 3:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Maine-birds] Popham Beach - Sep 11
 
Michael;

Here's the best I could do, given the distance, strong dawn light, etc.
It's a lot easier when there's 1 Golden among a bunch of Black Bellies.  I hardly believed my eyes today.  If I were you, I probably wouldn't believe me.

best
mike



On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 3:42 PM, Down East Nature Tours <info@downeastnaturetours.com> wrote:
Hey Mike ..no grief but was wondering if you could send a photo of sleeping Golden Plover...  I had a Juvenile the other day in Bass Harbor but no large flocks.
 
Interesting Fall so far and it seems like some big movements are occurring.
 
All the best,
 
Michael
 
From: Mike Fahay
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 2:04 PM
Subject: [Maine-birds] Popham Beach - Sep 11
 
I missed the main body of 700+ peeps this early A.M., but had a few highlights nevertheless:

1. Photos of a nice juve Baird's S.P.
2. 3 Forster's Terns in a group of 71 Commons
3.  2 Merlin pass-bys, in one case being pursued and nipped by a Com Tern
4. A White-rumped SP  sans tail feathers, hiding in the Spartina. Methinks a 'survivor' of Merlin agression.
5. A group of 27 sleeping plovers in the lagoon on the mud bank.  Only saw a bill now and then (and 1 axillar) while digiscoping furiously. When I turned my attention to the aforementioned White Rump, they snuck away, soundlessly, for parts unknown.  I'm going to report that all 27 were Am. Golden Plovers, and will probably take a ton of grief for it. 
6. 3 juve Piping Plovers remain in the wrack on outer New Sand Island. 
7. 2 No Harriers; 1 Cooper's Hawk; 2 Merlins; 1 Sharpie; 1 Osprey; 2 Bgls

Walking barefoot this crisp early morning was interesting;  the sand was warmer than the air. 
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