ID-FRONTIERS for September 18-24, 2005

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Date   Time   White-cheeked Pintail - Escape-Hybrid or Wind Blown?   OLCOOT1(AT)AOL.COM   Sun, 18 Sep 2005   9:19pm   Possible Lesser Sand-Plover (Mongolian Plover) near Talahasse, FL   Jeff Bouton    Mon, 19 Sep 2005   2:11pm   Hawks from every angle   Ian Paulsen    Tue, 20 Sep 2005   10:34am   NEW bird books   Ian Paulsen    Tue, 20 Sep 2005   2:10pm   Re: NEW bird books   Matt Orsie    Tue, 20 Sep 2005   3:32pm   Flycatcher ID -condensed responses   Woundedmallard67(AT)AOL   Wed, 21 Sep 2005   11:32am   Strange Rail in Italy   Menotti Passarella    Fri, 23 Sep 2005   1:01pm   Paul R Wood/UK/TLS/PwC is out of the office.   Paul Wood    Fri, 23 Sep 2005   1:32pm   Re: Strange Rail in Italy   Norman D.van Swelm   Fri, 23 Sep 2005   1:56pm   Re: Strange Rail in Italy   Ian Paulsen    Fri, 23 Sep 2005   2:31pm   Italian Rail   Jim Barton    Sat, 24 Sep 2005   7:27am

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Subject: White-cheeked Pintail - Escape-Hybrid or Wind
         Blown?
From: OLCOOT1(AT)AOL.COM
Date: 18 Sep 2005 9:19pm

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Sept. 18, 2005
Ensley Bottoms
Memphis, Shelby Co. TN
 
Today, I had a bird in with a large mixed flock of Mallards, Shoveler and  
Blue-winged Teal. it appears to be a White-cheeked Pintail but a couple of  
things are a little off and I could not find much on immatures of this species. 
Hybrid, escapee or after 2 major hurricanes traveling through the Caribbean and
 Gulf and then unloading Skua, Magnificent Frigatebird, Royal Terns, 
Band-rumped  Storm-Petrels, Jaegers, Sooty Terns and more in TN, could this bird
 have
hitched  a ride? I found another left over Black Skimmer just the day before  
about 5 miles north of Ensley..........
 
I'm more interested in plumage features of head and the beak color and I  
know someone out there has the info at hand.
 
Anyway an interesting and beautiful bird to spend some time with here on  the 
Mississippi River.
 
For Photos Try: _http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/wcpintail_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/wcpintail) 
 

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Subject: Possible Lesser Sand-Plover (Mongolian Plover)
         near Talahasse, FL
From: Jeff Bouton <jbouton2(AT)EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: 19 Sep 2005 2:11pm

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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All,

So far there are a handful of fuzzy images and a decent description of a =
bird and a call note. Most who have seen these images believe the bird =
is a Lesser Sand-Plover found yesterday at St Marks. NWR near =
Talahassee, FL. The bird was seen both yesterday morning and then again =
today at the same time between 3 and 4 hours after low tide. Others are =
out looking now. The few images are posted at the FL Birds Website:
http://floridabirds-l.50megs.com/

See the first two links to the "odd Shorebird". Comments welcomed.=20

The original description is here:
=20
"It is slightly larger than a semi-palmated plover, slightly lighter in =
color, seems to lack the white neck collar.  It definitely is not a =
Wilson's Plover, as it has a bill shape like a semi-palm.  It and a =
semi-palm took off together and I head two different calls, the standard =
semipalm "cheweee" and a rapid three note T-D-D that sounds more like a =
sandpiper."

At any rate, if tentative ID is correct this would obviously be a very =
significant find for the SE United States. If any would like to offer =
commentary on photos and description all are welcome. BTW - I haven't =
seen this bird myself but hope to!

Good birding,

Jeff Bouton
Port Charlotte, FL
jbouton2(AT)earthlink.net

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Subject: Hawks from every angle
From: Ian Paulsen <birdbooker(AT)ZIPCON.NET>
Date: 20 Sep 2005 10:34am

HI:
 Has anyone seen this new hawk id book:

Hawks from Every Angle: How to Identify Raptors in Flight. Jerry Liguori.
Princeton, 2005. 339 color photos. 19 species common to migration sites
covered in detail. 160 pp. Paper. $19.95

If so what do you think of it?

-- 

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"

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Subject: NEW bird books
From: Ian Paulsen <birdbooker(AT)ZIPCON.NET>
Date: 20 Sep 2005 2:10pm

HI:
 I was wondering if anyone has heard of any interesting NEW bird books,
especially identification books?

-- 

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"

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Subject: Re: NEW bird books
From: Matt Orsie <vireo(AT)ADELPHIA.NET>
Date: 20 Sep 2005 3:32pm

Ian... Here's one:

"Hawks from Every Angle : How to Identify Raptors In Flight"
Jerry Liguori; Hardcover; $55.00

( on one line... )
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0691118248/qid=1127255433/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-9494329-9758517?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Good Birding,
Matt Orsie
Summit Point, WV
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ian Paulsen" <birdbooker(AT)ZIPCON.NET>
To: <BIRDWG01(AT)LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 5:11 PM
Subject: [BIRDWG01] NEW bird books

> HI:
> I was wondering if anyone has heard of any interesting NEW bird books,
> especially identification books?
>
> -- 
>
> Ian Paulsen
> Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
> A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
> "Rallidae all the way!"
>
>
> Join or Leave BIRDWG01: 
> http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01
>
> Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html 

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Subject: Flycatcher ID -condensed responses
From: Woundedmallard67(AT)AOL.COM
Date: 21 Sep 2005 11:32am

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=20
Arch,=20
=20
  I have recieved several responses off-list (scroll past  signature).  I=20
believe the reason it was more of an off-list response was  the expectation=20=
that=20
among all these knowledgable birders there would certainly  be a difference=20=
in=20
opinion on such a difficult bird.  All arguements had  valid points but in=20
the end, lack of any call note heard, I suppose,  still  leaves it's=20
identification inconclusive.  I've condensed all but a few  responses I've r=
eceived. =20
Perhaps it may help you come to a  conclusion.............or not! lol
  I, personally have learned, and shall continue to be taught lol, to  pay=20
close attention to the bird while it's there in front of you, and most of  a=
ll,=20
keep your ears open, or, in my case, keep your hearing aids in!! LOL
  Thank you all for your time and knowledge.
  See you out there!
=20
Thomas J. Dunkerton

Titusville, FL
_www.pbase.com/boidpikchas_ (http://www.pbase.com/boidpikchas)  =20

Thomas;

I noticed there have been  very few responses to your post.  I already said=20=
I=20
thought it was  anAcadian Flycatcher.  I=E2=80=99ll elaborate  now as to why=
 I said=20
that.  For one, the bill is too long for Willow, or Alder.  The head shape i=
s=20
wrong  and the eye-ring is not intense enough for Least.  Of  the eastern=20
empids, which more  than likely it is, that leaves Acadian and Yellow-bellie=
d.  If=20
it was a Yellow-bellied the eye-ring  would be more intense and there would=20=
be=20
at least someyellowish underneath and the throat would  be yellow, or=20
yellowish, but since it=E2=80=99s not, that rules out Yellow-bellied. =20
=20
Everything about this bird (length of  primary projections; length and width=
=20
of bill; eye-ring intensity; size and coloration of  wing-bars; throat,=20
breast, flanks and belly coloration and coloration of back and wings, all po=
int to =20
Acadian.  With the exception of Yellow-bellied, all of the eastern empids=20
breed within 10 miles of my house,  so I=E2=80=99ve have a lot of experience=
 looking at=20
empids for the past 27 years.=20
**********************************************

It's definitely a Least  Flycatcher. Look at the very small bill--smaller=20
than that of any other  eastern Empid or pewee.  Also, the short primary=20
extension, short tail,  large head with virtually complete, even=20
eye-ring, and orangish-yellow lower  mandible are definitive for Least. =20
The brownish wash dorsally and on  the wingbars (at least, in one image)=20
indicates an immature.  Did this  bird call?  Least often makes its=20
"whit" call note, both in migration  and on the wintering grounds in FL. =20
It usually forages fairly low to  the ground, but will go higher up in=20
the vegetation at  times.=20
***********************************************=20
This is an empid, for various reasons  already posted.  I am not=20
confident as to the specific ID, but suspect  a hatch year Acadian, but=20
cannot eliminate Willow/Alder.
****************************************************=20
I continued to check out some ref  shots I had of tarsi lengths and eyerings=
=20
on empids vs contopus and I now agree  that this bird is an empid with the=20
thin eyering, plain utc's- the thin eyering  suggests alder
*******************************************************=20
Reasons NOT a pewee:   lacks undertail covert spots (and  EXCELLENT field=20
mark, BTW!), too much eyering, primary projection too  short, not enough=20
vest-shading underneath, etc.  What little eyering pewees  have tends to hav=
e a bulge=20
and appear thicker near the rear =3D uneven look.
Brownish plumage leads me away from ACADIAN and eye-ring does not seem  thic=
k=20
enough.  Again, eye-ring doesn't seem thick enough for LEAST and  primary=20
projection too long.  I would tend to call this one a TRAIL'S  because of=20
coloration and thin, complete eyering.  To go farther than that  I would nee=
d a call=20
or banding measurements.  Folks who see lots of  ALDERS and WILLOWS can do=20
pretty well in the field - this is not me! =20
*************************************************
=20
I agree with Robert, the bird looks like an  Empid to me, and I think=20
Willow/Alder is spot-on.
******************************************************
I would concur with your  fellow birder.  This bird appears to be a =20
"Traill's" Flycatcher  (i.e., Willow/Alder) rather than an Eastern =20
Wood-Pewee.  The  separation of Trail's from pewees is a challenge =20
faced by birders all  across the country at this time of year.  There =20
are a couple of  features that can readily separate these two =20
however.    First, note the structure of the bird, namely how long the =20
wings are  (primary projection).  Eastern Wood-Pewee has incredibly =20
long  primary projection, with the visible primary length nearly equal =20
to or  exceeding the length from the tip of the longest tertial to the =20
tip of  longest greater secondary covert.  On a Trail's (e.g., your  =20
bird), the primary projection is noticeably shorter than that of a  =20
pewee.  Also as you suggest, the wing bars are stronger than is  =20
typically found on a pewee.  While both have wing bars, the  pattern =20
is subtly different, with pewees having more paler edgings  than =20
tipping, versus more prominent pale tipping to Trail's.   Also =20
especially note the broad dark patch on the base of the  secondaries, =20
a feature of Empidonax usually lacking or subtle on  pewees.  Finally, =20
note how your bird looks really round headed in  all of the photos.  =20
Eastern Wood-Pewee often has more of a peaked  crown look.  Below are =20
a couple of links to Eastern Wood-Pewees  for comparison of various  =20
points:
http://tinyurl.com/b4b48
http://tinyurl.com/anlpn
http://tinyurl.com/8rwv4
***********************************************************
Looks like an HY  Willow Flycatcher, but of course, Alder is not eliminated.=
=20
The primary extension  is shorter in empids than in pewees. This bird has a=20
brownish-olive cast, as  opposed to the grayish-olive of a pewee. The format=
ion=20
of the secondary panel is  more like an Empid and the thin, almost complete=20
eye ring is perfect for Willow,  even most Alders have more of an eye ring.=20=
Nice=20
pictures!=20
****************************************************
=20
Your bird looks like a Willow Flycatcher.  Pewees have considerably  longer=20
wings and correspondingly long primary projection.  They also, as  suggested=
 in=20
your post, have narrower wing bars.  The virtual lack of an  eye ring leaves=
=20
only Willow and Alder as possibilities and the off-white throat  showing poo=
r=20
contrast with the auriculars is indicative of Willow and  counter-indicative=
=20
for Alder.
=20
  Thanks again  everyone!
=20

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Subject: Strange Rail in Italy
From: Menotti Passarella <menotti.passarella(AT)LIBERO.IT>
Date: 23 Sep 2005 1:01pm

Hi all. This evening I was able to take a (poor) photo of a (juvenile) Rail 
walking on nets in the brackish Scardovary cove, Po Delta, NE Italy.
http://www.extracon.org/porzana
Any suggestions ?
Thanks
Menotti Passarella
info(AT)birdingitaly.com
www.birdingitaly.net 

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Subject: Paul R Wood/UK/TLS/PwC is out of the office.
From: Paul Wood <paul.r.wood(AT)uk.pwc.com>
Date: 23 Sep 2005 1:32pm

I will be out of the office from 23/09/2005 until 27/09/2005.

I am away from the office on Friday 23 September and Monday 26 September
2005, returning to the office on Tuesday 27 September 2005.  I will not
have access to my e-mail during this time and will respond to your message
when I return to the office.  If you require assistance in the meantime,
please call my secretary, Angela Moore, on 020 7212 3029.
_________________________________________________________________
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to
which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
material.  Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or
taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or
entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.   If you received
this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any
computer.

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Subject: Re: Strange Rail in Italy
From: "Norman D.van Swelm" <Norman.vanswelm(AT)wxs.nl>
Date: 23 Sep 2005 1:56pm

Menotti Passarella wrote: > This evening I was able to take a (poor) photo 
of a (juvenile) Rail
> walking on nets in the brackish Scardovary cove, Po Delta, NE Italy.
> http://www.extracon.org/porzana
> Any suggestions ?<

Looks like a juvenile Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica to me, fleeing 
for Rita! Lucky bird made it to Italy.
Norman

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Subject: Re: Strange Rail in Italy
From: Ian Paulsen <birdbooker(AT)ZIPCON.NET>
Date: 23 Sep 2005 2:31pm

HI:
 What about Sora?

-- 

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"

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Subject: Italian Rail
From: Jim Barton <redwingatfp1986(AT)COMCAST.NET>
Date: 24 Sep 2005 7:27am

    Hello.  The small gulls in front I take to be winter Mediterranean Gulls 
 >L.melanocephalus<  The rail appears to be about half the size of the gulls. 
In my opinion, that makes Sora  >Porzana carolina< a better guess than 
Purple Gallinule >Porphyrula martinica.  I note that the observer believe 
his bird to be Porzana sp.

Size comparisons--

    Med. Gull, length 37-40 cm  (Collins)
    Sora 22 cm (National Geographic)
    P. Gallinule 33 cm

    The bird appears to be the right shape for a Sora, and also appears to 
lack the long yellow legs to be expected of P. Gallinule.  What appear to be 
long yellow legs are, I believe, part of the netting.   The horizontal 
posture also suggests Sora rather than P. Gallinule.

    Dark legs would say Sora, according to Nat Geo.  But Collins shows 
yellow-green legs.  Was the leg color noted?

    I don't know what to make of the apparent reddish tinge to the head of 
the bird.

    Judging from Collins, two and perhaps three Porzana sp. can be expected 
in Italy-- Spotted Crake >P.porzana<, Little Crake >P.parva< and Baillon's 
Crake >P.pusilla<.  Corn Crake >Crex crex< also appears to be a possibility. 
I have no experience with any of these species. What argues against one or 
more of these species and in favor of a very rare vagrant?

    Yours,

Jim Barton
redwingatfp1986(AT)comcast.net
Cambridge, MA
US Coordinator, Proact
campaigning for birds and their habitats
before it's too late
www.proact-campaigns.net
campaigning for birds and

 

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