Thanks for the update, Scott, and congratulations on securing what I think is the best photo yet taken of this rarity. Please continue to post updates to this forum. Also, as this is a state “Review Species” (https://ibrc.idahobirds.net/review-species), the Idaho Bird Records Committee would highly-appreciate submissions from anyone and everyone who has observed this bird, and especially those who have obtained photographs (but the more documentation, the merrier). You can submit a rare bird report at the following link: https://ibrc.idahobirds.net/node/add/rare_bird_reports (if you have not, yet).
Finally, a minor (and possibly slightly pedantic) note about terminology. The term “peep” refers to the smallest group of Calidris sandpipers including (only) Least, Western, Semipalmated, Baird’s, White-rumped, and the Old World stints. Larger sandpipers, like Sharp-tailed, and other shorebirds are not peeps, but the definition of that term has become somewhat muddled over the years.
Thank you, Scott, for the picture! The pictures I took on Sunday while Gary and I were there with you did not turn out this good. Glad you were able to find it again and get this photo.
9am: Sharp-tailed Sandpiper landed on the small gravel island about 10 minutes ago and continues to be there alone. A Dowitcher was there previously then flew into reeds along far shore.
Wanting to get a better look than I had a couple days ago, I am at the pond this morning and I saw one Mallard and five green wing teal, and they departed a few minutes after I parked. So far not a single peep in sight!
While checking out Littlerock again last week, I photographed the LBDO in the 2nd pond and noticed a dowitcher type individual with a shorter bill. I was never able to get a good luck at the tail or anything else to distinguish it as a SBDO, but as someone else reported a SBDO there today, I’ve entered it as a shorebird.sp on this checklist https://ebird.org/checklist/S120823184 (the bird in question is at the far right of the group, facing camera) and welcome comments.
Denise Hughes and I were watching the Black Scoter through scopes when we saw it get up and fly with rapid wing beats toward the west side of lower dam. We drove west along dam looking for it but didn’t refind it before it got too dark.
Good luck to others looking for it. Thanks to JC Clancy for finding it and to Linda/Louisa for refinding it.
JC Clancy found a black scoter on 10/15 and Linda Wentz refound it on 10/16 at about 5 pm. Bird seen on the far side of the reservoir from the east end of Lower Dam hanging out with eared grebes. Appears to be a juvenile. Long black duck with light cheek patch, tail held at 45 degree angle. —
