ID-FRONTIERS for August 25-31, 2002

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Date   Time   Mystery bird   David Vander Pluym    Mon, 26 Aug 2002   11:39am   Another mystery dowitcher   Joseph Morlan    Mon, 26 Aug 2002   12:35pm   Re: Mystery Bird   Angus Wilson    Mon, 26 Aug 2002   12:36pm   Interesting shearwater from Ascension Island   Angus Wilson    Mon, 26 Aug 2002   1:34pm   Re: Mystery Bird   David Vander Pluym    Mon, 26 Aug 2002   6:48pm   Interesting shearwater from Ascension Island   Angus Wilson    Wed, 28 Aug 2002   8:26am   Thanks for informative discussion   Glenn A dEntremont    Wed, 28 Aug 2002   6:36pm   A Calidris from Wisconsin   John Idzikowski    Thu, 29 Aug 2002   8:27am   Dowitcher moult   John Idzikowski    Fri, 30 Aug 2002   8:30am   Willow Warbler in Alaska   Ian Paulsen    Fri, 30 Aug 2002   10:30am   Re: Willow Warbler in Alaska   Ian Paulsen    Fri, 30 Aug 2002   2:37pm   FORTY-THIRD AOU SUPPLEMENT (fwd)   Ian Paulsen    Fri, 30 Aug 2002   10:54pm   yakutenssis   Norman D.van Swelm   Sat, 31 Aug 2002   5:12am

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Subject: Mystery bird
From: David Vander Pluym <scre(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 26 Aug 2002 11:39am

Hi all I'm posting this for a friend.  He sent me these pics and ask for me
to post them and see what people thought as it seems no two have the same
opinion of the bird.  I was wondering what you all thought.  The pics were
taken last Friday in I believe Michigan anyway thanks for any help.  The
bird was in a field feeding with Horned Larks
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/psyfrmcali/lst?.dir=/Mystery+Bird&.view=t

David Vander Pluym
Ventura California


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Subject: Another mystery dowitcher
From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan(AT)CCSF.ORG>
Date: 26 Aug 2002 12:35pm

I would appreciate more opinions and/or discussion on this month's
"mystery" bird at:

http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/aug02.htm

Opinion on my site is still rather divided.

Thanks in advance.

--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:jmorlan(AT)ccsf.org
Fall Birding Classes start Sept 4: http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/


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Subject: Re: Mystery Bird
From: Angus Wilson <wilsoa02(AT)ENDEAVOR.MED.NYU.EDU>
Date: 26 Aug 2002 12:36pm

An interesting and challenging set of photos! At this point, I lean toward a
juvenile Horned Lark rather than say a longspur or sparrow of some kind. The
first photo seems the most helpful as the head is stationary. The bird seems to
show the beginnings of the dark breastband and dark mask contrasting
with pale throat. To my eye, the bill shape seems consistent with Horned Lark
but
I suppose might not exclude Smith's Longspur? The only feature I find
hard to reconcile with Horned Lark is the strong bar formed by the pale median
coverts. As I recall the greater coverts of juvenile Horned Lark show the
broadest white tips which does not seem to be the case here...........

Angus Wilson

David Vander Pluym wrote:

   Hi all I'm posting this for a friend.  He sent me these pics and ask for me
   to post them and see what people thought as it seems no two have the same
   opinion of the bird.  I was wondering what you all thought.  The pics were
   taken last Friday in I believe Michigan anyway thanks for any help.  The
   bird was in a field feeding with Horned Larks
   http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/psyfrmcali/lst?.dir=/Mystery+Bird&.view=t

   David Vander Pluym
   Ventura California

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Subject: Interesting shearwater from Ascension Island
From: Angus Wilson <wilsoa02(AT)ENDEAVOR.MED.NYU.EDU>
Date: 26 Aug 2002 1:34pm

Richard White generously provided a photo of an interesting small
black-and-white
shearwater captured last week on Ascension Island in the Mid-Atlantic.The bird
appears to be from the rather tricky Little/Audubon's Shearwarer complex and
has
blue feet and legs but lacks the white feathering encircling the eye typical of
the North Atlantic form of Little Shearwater.

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Ascensionshear.html

Informed comments/thoughts are welcome and will be added to the page unless
requested otherwise.

Angus Wilson
http://www.oceanwanderers.com

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Subject: Re: Mystery Bird
From: David Vander Pluym <SCRE(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 26 Aug 2002 6:48pm

Just wanted to add a bit more on the bird.  My friend informed me that it was
not a lark as it had a sparrow type bill.  Also the primary projection looks
short to me for a lark and the wing pattern doesn't seem quite right.  Also I
think I can see a bit of a flesh toned bill on the head shot.  So far most
answers has come as a very worn Vesper Sparrow or a Longspur.  I'm looking
forward to hearing more opinions about this bird.

David Vander Pluym
Ventura California


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Subject: Interesting shearwater from Ascension Island
From: Angus Wilson <wilsoa02(AT)ENDEAVOR.MED.NYU.EDU>
Date: 28 Aug 2002 8:26am

I have received some good feedback on the small black-and-white shearwater
photographed by Richard White on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. The
comments can be read at the bottom of the page.

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Ascensionshear.html

As a comparison, seabird authority Dr. Berni Zonfrillo has kindly supplied
photos
of Little Shearwaters from the Desertas and Azores Islands in North Atlantic.
Given the usual caveats of comparing birds photographed under different
conditions, the extent of dark feather around the eye of the Ascension Island
bird seems more extensive to me and more typical of Audubons Shearwaters that
occur of the eastern United States.

Two important issues seem to be emerging: (1) How useful is leg colour in
differentiating Little and Audubon Shearwaters? (2) Are these two forms really
distinct species or different forms/populations of a widespread and somewaht
variable species? I would be interested to know if there are hehavioural or
ecological differences that support separate treatment.

I would appreciate additional comments on leg color from seabird banders or
museum ornithologist with experience of this challenging group.

Many thanks to Brian Sullivan, Berni Zonfrillo, Dick Veit and Matt Sharp for
commenting on the photograph.

Angus Wilson
Ocean Wanderers
http://www.oceanwanderers.com

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Subject: Thanks for informative discussion
From: Glenn A dEntremont <gdentremont(AT)JUNO.COM>
Date: 28 Aug 2002 6:36pm

Like to thank Blair, Don C., Rick, Martin, Floyd, Julian, Alvaro, Miguel,
Phil, Andy, Don R., Matt, Tony, Joseph, Clay, and John (if I have left
someone out it is an oversight) for quite an informative and lively
discussion regarding the MA Elegant Tern; one of the best on these pages.

        Glenn

Glenn d'Entremont
gdentremont(AT)juno.com
Stoughton, MA


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Subject: A Calidris from Wisconsin
From: John Idzikowski <idzikoj(AT)UWM.EDU>
Date: 29 Aug 2002 8:27am

A digital of a juvenile peep that I posted  to the Wisconsin listserv has
created a bit of discussion as I thought it would. Unfortunately
there are no shots of it with the many Semipalmated Sands some yards away,
but it did briefly associate with that flock when I first saw it and this
bird is
Baird's size- at least a third larger than any Semi there. See the first 6
shots in the shorebird album at

http://community.webshots.com/user/idzikoj

The bird did not fly or flap during the observation. Some shots as you will
see have been adjusted for
brightness and contrast and others have not. While this is a plumage that I
have seen only once or twice before
I think this ID is rather straightforward but I would appreciate a few
opinions.

John Idzikowski, Milwaukee


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Subject: Dowitcher moult
From: John Idzikowski <idzikoj(AT)UWM.EDU>
Date: 30 Aug 2002 8:30am

Recent field viewing and photography of adult hendersoni SBDO in Wisconsin
in late July and August have caused me to look into what references there
may be concerning the timing of Dowitcher pre-basic moult. Certain birds
appear to be more than just very worn but are lacking primaries and inner
secondaries suggesting active moult of at least flight feathers
during migration; it is close to impossible to know what one is seeing
without in the hand examination. A few adults seem to have gray feathers at
this time as well- either new or retained basic.

The standard field guide info states that SBDO moult or complete their moult
on their wintering sites while LBDO moult on staging areas before their
final wintering sites are reached inferring that any moulting adult
encountered
where Dowitcher do not winter can be assumed to be LBDO. Various discussions
of quiz birds on bird websites and previously here often contradict each
other and most offer no refs for their claims.

I have been attempting to contact Dowitcher researchers who might have some
 insight into moult timing based on actual examination of living birds.
Cheri Gratto-Trevor of the Canadian WS referred me to an "occasional paper"
of great interest, the relevant portion is transcribed below.  I also asked
Cheri to
comment on any body moult observed at the time of the described flight
feather moult
(below); she states "I seem to recall they were massively in body moult as
well. "

John Idzikowski, Milwaukee

____________

Alexander, S. A., and C. L. Gratto-Trevor. 1997. Shorebird migration and
staging at a large prairie lake and wetland complex: the Quill Lakes,
Saskatchewan. Can. Wildl. Service Occasional Paper Number 97. Canadian
Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa K1A 0H3. 47 pp.

4.2.6 Active flight feather moult

Very few shorebirds moult flight feathers during migration in Canada (CLGT,
unpubl. data). At the Quill Lakes, dowitchers were the only shorebirds found
with active flight feather moult (i.e., wing and tail feathers were being
replaced). In 1990, none of the six Short-billed Dowitchers examined was in
active moult, while 43% (9/21) of Long-billed Dowitchers were moulting.
Birds captured as early as 19 July were moulting primaries, and some had
initiated secondary moult by 25 July. In 1991, 42% (8/19) of Short-billed
Dowitchers examined were in moult, compared to 88% (15/17) of Long-billed
Dowitchers. Tail moult in dowitchers was first noted in early August, and by
8 August, a few birds were missing all tail feathers. Wing moult progressed
regularly from the first to outer primary, and secondary moult from the
first to inner secondary. Secondary moult was initiated approximately at the
time the 6th primary was moulted.

Moult might have been observed more commonly in Long-billed Dowitchers
because they remained in the area through August, while few Short-billed
Dowitchers were present after the first week of that month. However, even
some Short-billed Dowitchers present in mid August were not moulting flight
feathers, while all Long-billed Dowitchers were in active moult at that
time.


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Subject: Willow Warbler in Alaska
From: Ian Paulsen <ipaulsen(AT)KRL.ORG>
Date: 30 Aug 2002 10:30am

HI ALL:
 Just got in an e-mail that Paul Lehman et al. found a Willow Warbler
(Phylloscopus trochilus)at Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska (25-26
Aug. 2002). Originally identified as a Chiffchaff (P. collybita) but after
reviewing video-tape and consulting with other birders and reference
materials the bird was identified. This is a first for North America
(although a specimen from Pt. Barrow Alaska was thought to be this species
that was collected on 11 June 1968, was re-examined and turned out to be
an Arctic Warbler (P. borealis).
sincerely

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
ipaulsen(AT)krl.org
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way"


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Subject: Re: Willow Warbler in Alaska
From: Ian Paulsen <ipaulsen(AT)KRL.ORG>
Date: 30 Aug 2002 2:37pm

HI ALL:
 According to Kevin Baker's Warbler of Europe, Asia and North Africa
states:" P.t. yakutensis (central and eastern Siberia)- a comparatively
well-marked subspecies which is only likely to be confused with paler
eastern populations of P.t. acredula. Greyer and browner above and whiter
below than nominate; the upperparts are grey-brown, except for rump,
uppertail-coverts and fringes to wings and tail which are olive-green.
Underparts dull white, smudged grey on breast and flanks. In worn plumage
the upperparts become grey with only traces of olive on the rump."

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
ipaulsen(AT)krl.org
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way"


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Subject: FORTY-THIRD AOU SUPPLEMENT (fwd)
From: Ian Paulsen <ipaulsen(AT)KRL.ORG>
Date: 30 Aug 2002 10:54pm

HI:
 In case anyone wants to get a sneak peak at the latest AOU Checklist
supplement.

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
ipaulsen(AT)krl.org
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 00:19:22 -0400
From: Paul Pratt <prairie(AT)netcore.ca>
To: ipaulsen(AT)krl.org
Subject: FORTY-THIRD AOU SUPPLEMENT

Hi Ian,

I recall you requested on one of the chat groups whether the 43rd AOU
supplement had been published. I found the contents of the July issue of
the Auk at the web site given below but the full text is only available by
subscription.

http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-toc&issn=0004-8038&volume=119&issue=03

I'm looking forward to seeing the latest bunch of splits & lumps once I can
locate a printed copy.

Cheers,

Paul Pratt
Ojibway Natrure Centre
Windsor, ON
http://www.city.windsor.on.ca/ojibway


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Subject: yakutenssis
From: "Norman D.van Swelm" <Norman.vanswelm(AT)WXS.NL>
Date: 31 Aug 2002 5:12am

Have a look at Peter Nilsson 1st yakutensis for Sweden:
 http://212.181.12.249/korpen/images/yakutensis/index.htm