Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

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Tim Barnard
Posts: 426
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:30 pm
Location: Okere Falls

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Postby Tim Barnard » Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:39 pm

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
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Tim Barnard
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Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:30 pm
Location: Okere Falls

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Postby Tim Barnard » Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:41 am

Present an hour either side of high tide ... not great viewing sadly. Too distant.
Tim
David Lawrie
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Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:32 pm

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Postby David Lawrie » Tue Nov 05, 2019 8:40 pm

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.
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20191103.PNG (382.32 KiB) Viewed 2330 times
20191103 Miranda .PNG
20191103 Miranda .PNG (407.15 KiB) Viewed 2330 times
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RussCannings
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Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Postby RussCannings » Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:11 am

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
Grahame
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Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Postby Grahame » Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:16 am

Thanks for that link Russ, it makes good reading.
Cheers, Grahame
phil hammond
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Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:10 pm

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Postby phil hammond » Thu Nov 07, 2019 8:38 pm

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
Matthias
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Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2015 11:50 am

Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Postby Matthias » Fri Nov 08, 2019 6:36 am

Here are three photos of the Broad-billed Sandpiper from January.
Cheers
Matthias

MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8898.jpg
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MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8905.jpg
MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8905.jpg (205.69 KiB) Viewed 2131 times

MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8909.jpg
MDehling_BBSandpiper_Miranda_8909.jpg (123.35 KiB) Viewed 2131 times
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RussCannings
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Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Postby RussCannings » Sun Nov 10, 2019 10:16 am

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!
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sav
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Re: Mystery Sanpiper at Miranda

Postby sav » Sun Nov 10, 2019 9:47 pm

And it was present tonight as well. Still annoyingly distant, but I'd have to agree with Russ - last years bird back again.

cheers
Sav Saville
Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
Great Birds, Real Birders

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