Plover update

[Nicky Davis <nicky-davis at earthlink dot net>]

Several people have written to help me with the positive I.D. of this bird which I really appreciate. It is a winter plumage Black-bellied Plover.

Here's a summary of the comments which may help you when trying to differentiate these birds at this time of year.  I know the info will be extremely helpful to me.

The bird I photographed had a larger head, shorter neck, thicker bill, lower contrasting supercilium, shorter wing to tail ratio than an American Golden-Plover, just like a Black-bellied.  The American Golden-Plover has a longer neck, smaller head, more pointed, thinner beak, higher contrasting supercilium and longer wing to tail ratio.

The bird has been at this exact location for about two weeks and has been seen with wings raised showing his black axillaries (arm-pits).  I waded out a little way into the puddles of water and laid down to put the camera on rocks to steady it and he didn't move.  He was still just standing there staring into space when we left.  Hope he's ok. Probably just enjoying the sun but he seemed unusually tame.

Some silliness
I had been focusing so hard on the Plover that I didn't even notice my husband had left me stranded on the causeway. No car...no husband...And with no extra card or batteries for the camera. It was as if he had been snatched by aliens. After wandering around for what seemed a very long time looking for another willing subject to photograph and worrying, the naughty husband returned from his "potty break" just grinnin' about his little disappearing act. "All's Well that Ends Well"

Nicky
 

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