Being a drab golden plover with long-looking primaries (and being on Codfish) makes this bird ripe for raised eye-brows. Indeed it caused some excited discussion behind the scenes earlier today. I hate to seem like I'm "Anti-American" after the Ellesmere bird (last summer? or the one before that?), but I think this is another one of these drab juvenile Pacifics with worn tertials that has the superficial appearance of a Yank.
Here's why I think it's a Pacific:-Ill-defined greyish supercilium that narrows above and in front of the eye
-Prominent dark auricular patch
-Wonky-shaped head (No offence Pacifics but Americans are just cuter and more evenly proportioned in the head/bill department)
-Tail is not well defined in these photos but Photo #2-3 possibly show it and makes it seem like there is little (if any primary projection). Johannes told me via Facebook chat that the primary projection appeared minimal in the field.
-While the resolution is certainly not ideal, I count only 3 primaries that are safely projecting beyond the longest tertial (Best seen in the final 2 photos). And even if the 4th barely projects, the tertials (to my eye) look distinctly worn (Which is to be expected at this time of year, and after a long flight especially with a drab bird--indicating wear--even for American juveniles).
-Juveniles (which I believe this bird to be regardless of species) have shorter tertials so the primaries always look a littler pointier and thus extra caution is needed. Add wear/moult to this (Not sure of the tail situation?) and it's a recipe for over-selling the primary projection. **That being said, there could be a hidden outer primary close to the tip that is not visible in these photos (Which can happen)**. Johannes seemed to indicate though that this was not the case.
-Tibia appears relatively long
-Pacific is the most likely option and juveniles are often quite grey at this time of year (We seem to discuss candidates every Oct/Nov no?)
So in sum, everyone is absolutely right to raise flags on birds like this--and I hope that regardless of one's opinion on this bird, everyone will pay extra close attention to the next group of golden plovers they see. The synopsis above is my perspective--but I'm always open to being convinced otherwise or for people to simply ignore me
Russ C
Morrinsville, NZ
(Now a proud Dad! ... though looking at less plovers these days
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