Page 3 of 3

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:39 pm
by Tim Barnard
Hi David,
I think this one has a way to run. I am not happy to put it in the BBS camp just yet. Hybrids can be an easy opt out ... I just hope it lingers long enough to resolve the puzzle. Hopefully long enough so I can get to see it.
Tim

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:41 am
by Tim Barnard
Present an hour either side of high tide ... not great viewing sadly. Too distant.
Tim

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 8:40 pm
by David Lawrie
Here are a couple more photos that Tony Habraken took last sunday during our latest visit. the double supercilium appears to be getting more obvious although the bill is very thin, at least we know that it has no palmations to speak of.

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:11 am
by RussCannings
Thanks for the update David (and Tony). Great to see these different angles. While on the shorter end of the spectrum, the bill depth and shape, with no bulbous tip looks plausible for BB and I don't see any suggestion of Western-type features in this bird.

On this website there is a similarly short-billed bird with weak crown patterning:
http://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-broad ... piper.html

(Scroll down to image of 2 birds together)

Along with the Little Stints this has been a great season for studying unfamiliar plumages. What's next I wonder?

Russ

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:16 am
by Grahame
Thanks for that link Russ, it makes good reading.
Cheers, Grahame

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 8:38 pm
by phil hammond
I don't think anyone has posted a picture of last year's BBS at Miranda. I got a low quality photo on my cell through scope. It appears to show a narrower bill than normal for BBS

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2019 6:36 am
by Matthias
Here are three photos of the Broad-billed Sandpiper from January.
Cheers
Matthias

MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8898.jpg
MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8898.jpg (213.25 KiB) Viewed 2130 times

MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8905.jpg
MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8905.jpg (205.69 KiB) Viewed 2130 times

MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8909.jpg
MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8909.jpg (123.35 KiB) Viewed 2130 times

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 10:16 am
by RussCannings
Well I'd say the mystery is solved--this is almost surely the same individual that has returned for another season. It's nice when they do that!

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 9:47 pm
by sav
And it was present tonight as well. Still annoyingly distant, but I'd have to agree with Russ - last years bird back again.

cheers