Well now you've got us all agog, are you going to tell us what birds you saw???
Posted by Pica at August 30, 2004 2:31 PMPatience, Pica! I fell asleep in front of my keyboard before I could finish!
Posted by rjhall at August 30, 2004 3:26 PMWell, now that I've READ it, I understand. Good Lord. What an amazing trip. Congrats on the albatross, by the way.
Posted by Pica at August 30, 2004 4:58 PMMy friend Pica fowarded this to me and, after being on a 17 hour pelagic trip on Saturday off the coast of Massachusetts, I could identify entirely! Great trip, a Lesser SP on the boat. Oh my!
Posted by tattler at August 31, 2004 2:23 AMWarbler shots are amazing and a Mongolian Plover - what?!/?!!!#@
Posted by alan at August 31, 2004 6:29 AMAfter further research, the plover first identified as Lesser Sandplover on the 29 August trip has been determined to be a Snowy Plover. A combination of features added up to this identification. Several observers of the web photos pointed out that sandplovers do not show the white neck collar. Others mentioned the bill as either too small OR large for the sandplovers. A few votes were for Wilson's Plover. At least 3 observers extremely experienced with all of these birds in question said unequivocally that it was a Snowy Plover.
http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com/mb040829.htm