This has turned out to be a great bird to challenge us and a fun discussion. Now looking at this photo I withdraw my earlier suggestions on it being a Pectoral and am agreeing with Cliff’s suggestion it is a Western. It is so interesting on how posture and lighting can make a bird appear different. I was also worried about the light streaking but I had just seen earlier that day two Pectorals with streaking about that light. (I had actually thought they might be Westerns until a flock of Westerns flew in and surrounded them – it really helps to have a known bird for comparison.) As far as Bairds, I would expect a much more long winged elongated shape.
Any reports (positive or negative) this morning or throughout the day for both this bird and the phalarope would be greatly appreciated! Hoping these birds stick around for just a bit longer.
Thank you all for your input. As requested this is a different angle of what I believe is the same bird. There were so many moving up and down the shoreline I tried to get as many photos of each as I could and as you can see the lighting was not great.
I’m looking at a Little Gull at the moment. it’s near the dam on the south side at 42.79516, -112.87283 on a spit of land with other gulls, terns, and pelicans. Very small, especially compared to nearby Bonaparte’s. Small bill, very dark underwings, tiny legs, white primaries.
Also, Kathy Eklund, a local birder, has good photos of a promising Red Phalarope along the same shoreline but west. It’s a juvenile looking bird. Bigger and thicker billed than nearby Red necked Phalarope.
Austin Young
Pocatello
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Austin Young younaust@… Undergraduate Student Ecology and Conservation Biology Club President Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho
The more upright sandpiper looks like it could be a Baird’s given the bill size, shape; the primary projection; and the dark spots on the wings as folded.
Dean Jones
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
