tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27443001777742225292024-03-05T15:16:41.789-08:00Avian TendenciesBirding, listing, and digiscoping in Kent Co., Michigan and beyond.Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-65553960473462954822015-08-14T12:07:00.000-07:002015-08-14T12:11:21.560-07:00An intriguing mystery bird from Lake MichiganOn 28 September 2013, I co-led a Lake Michigan 'pelagic' tour for Michigan Audubon from St. Joseph, MI. Our boat went out about 8 miles, stopping several times to chum with bread and popcorn. Despite no good looks at our primary targets, jaegers, we did get one distant jaeger sp., and one Red-necked Phalarope. See <u style="color: #0000ee;">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15273528</u><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, the most interesting bird of the trip was a mystery landbird which made a brief pass of the boat, flying toward shore about 4 miles out. Dozens of folks, myself included, saw this bird make a pass as close as 100 feet from the boat. We had a very solid look at it, with good lighting (though the boat was rocking), before it got away from us and into an area of backlighting. The high quality look lasted about 4 seconds. All of us had only binoculars, but thankfully one participant, Zak Pohlen, was able to capture the bird with his DSLR/telephoto rig. Here are Zak's best photos, greatly cropped (he got 7 exposures in total, with 4 in focus enough to use):</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWP9EV3eLX6T3luSyx8_ymGJarGrz4lV_OGDB01SLr_iZoAK6cnFBzAqMY9TRKdnZItzWORKQq0dZbOEzx8b8lXuS0PTWqG7AU2uulOJDjoSu9F6DHJSEQWdiuIbNAYRrT_slJV3jcHav/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWP9EV3eLX6T3luSyx8_ymGJarGrz4lV_OGDB01SLr_iZoAK6cnFBzAqMY9TRKdnZItzWORKQq0dZbOEzx8b8lXuS0PTWqG7AU2uulOJDjoSu9F6DHJSEQWdiuIbNAYRrT_slJV3jcHav/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCanboHXWmxTREe5h31iigpoXZl2-8gb5DaVuVgRplIoedK6DlZ57h21Si-wmxJ_Jvjhs00kKVx2Zon7fGW3DAHVIC1wYOxYqigwOBYOurU6lFg0uCnrfSqpg2vfN2XceD9XQPLwP_UbUq/s1600/dovecropped4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCanboHXWmxTREe5h31iigpoXZl2-8gb5DaVuVgRplIoedK6DlZ57h21Si-wmxJ_Jvjhs00kKVx2Zon7fGW3DAHVIC1wYOxYqigwOBYOurU6lFg0uCnrfSqpg2vfN2XceD9XQPLwP_UbUq/s400/dovecropped4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCanboHXWmxTREe5h31iigpoXZl2-8gb5DaVuVgRplIoedK6DlZ57h21Si-wmxJ_Jvjhs00kKVx2Zon7fGW3DAHVIC1wYOxYqigwOBYOurU6lFg0uCnrfSqpg2vfN2XceD9XQPLwP_UbUq/s1600/dovecropped4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFo0Fwc6dr9AzDlRFEDOWDBTqEA1nvB-EouIA_MHhadwj2JJnLF2V1qKvs-Q4pm5j8WJtxxhszq5GXXkWqydOF4NdpwVAoUS5IoiTShH8kdXn_arGZH0WN_KKrI_byaARV58dmEMs9_WT/s1600/dovecropped3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFo0Fwc6dr9AzDlRFEDOWDBTqEA1nvB-EouIA_MHhadwj2JJnLF2V1qKvs-Q4pm5j8WJtxxhszq5GXXkWqydOF4NdpwVAoUS5IoiTShH8kdXn_arGZH0WN_KKrI_byaARV58dmEMs9_WT/s400/dovecropped3.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWNwhzOdSFtLN2xmIwLzRc7wiX8RDI3VyB13jL3lqPfjBRpHAe8gujlduB8IUT8gCJm8XDo6IgxGcM92hA3hUvDExFHK2eEPYtzcrh4nYRNcAlkurGihPaQihJw60V0SWFGH-FJj_Vdd9/s1600/dovecropped2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWNwhzOdSFtLN2xmIwLzRc7wiX8RDI3VyB13jL3lqPfjBRpHAe8gujlduB8IUT8gCJm8XDo6IgxGcM92hA3hUvDExFHK2eEPYtzcrh4nYRNcAlkurGihPaQihJw60V0SWFGH-FJj_Vdd9/s400/dovecropped2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxo5yArgMeSz6j8Gj0yvGp8nWWLl1-ce2KTZ8iOBylhEVKcUMFbL6ihQvZ8AdzLq_fkTYER5gnljgjrfEgJwGfxp44edDt7_k3jN95Hmtwkq0Z4PWjyLoliZpgbXzOOsZb7s6EKM4eFr3z/s1600/dovecropped5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxo5yArgMeSz6j8Gj0yvGp8nWWLl1-ce2KTZ8iOBylhEVKcUMFbL6ihQvZ8AdzLq_fkTYER5gnljgjrfEgJwGfxp44edDt7_k3jN95Hmtwkq0Z4PWjyLoliZpgbXzOOsZb7s6EKM4eFr3z/s400/dovecropped5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<div>
The bird was clearly a landbird, and pale gray overall. All who saw it thought it was roughly in the size category of a starling, blackbird, or meadowlark. It was flying quickly and aggressively toward shore, into a steady headwind, and making good progress. The wingbeats were fast, interrupted by bouts of gliding, like a meadowlark. The initial discussion among the birders on deck was of it possibly being a kingbird, starling (esp. a pale juvenile), or even a meadowlark. But once back on land and looking at Zak's photos some additional traits began to emerge and the discussion moved toward a pigeon or dove. But after looking at all the options in this group, none seemed to match well enough to call it, so we eBirded it as a pigeon/dove sp. </div>
</div>
<div>
<u style="color: #0000ee;"><br /></u></div>
<div>
Our discussion of the pigeon/dove options went like this: we considered Eurasian Collared-Dove (still very rare in MI), as it seemed to match the overall color of this bird but my judgment was that the wingbeats were too fast and that it was to small to be that species, plus the upperwings appeared wrong. Common Ground-Dove, accidental in MI, was discussed, but the apparent amount of white in the tail corners was thought to be too large, and the tail possibly too short (?). Inca Dove, also accidental in MI, has subsequently been mentioned by some, and may still be a viable candidate (?). A final discussion revolved around whether this could just be an aberrant Mourning Dove, with some kind of symmetrical tail molt making the tail appear perfectly squared, and overall pale coloration. Of course, several traits seemed at odds with this identification as well, including the very pale coloration and relatively large head. Of course, the quality of the photographs is a limiting factor here, and may be distorting some of these traits.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To summarize, this bird may well go down as unidentified, but myself and most of the birders on the boat would love to know what everyone thinks, and either way a good mystery bird is always a lot of fun anyway.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are the originals for anyone interested:</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGf66ZGa4R9BBm9tRhvISHllJr4BSxfTFE6trgc4lvjofNuizCQU3j4XYb9ZOByZSTjh1ijDnsmMzYszMyvyl1_zwJH-Ec-wZP_Td-0S1kbxKlDlPE-g1sx4BzcD1mpwAmS0GLhgJxMzzS/s1600/dove+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGf66ZGa4R9BBm9tRhvISHllJr4BSxfTFE6trgc4lvjofNuizCQU3j4XYb9ZOByZSTjh1ijDnsmMzYszMyvyl1_zwJH-Ec-wZP_Td-0S1kbxKlDlPE-g1sx4BzcD1mpwAmS0GLhgJxMzzS/s400/dove+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwq-pOTdGlL1w__DVRCFL6XMcdhuVnj-aCNkAJzX_wPclIdBT47mwrZbd1Ttx1kinT94w1EnPlhDUhXbENZlsi3SQ3CshRySYhqfNZntKkSFW7e20jkacJD6dlrZCFMd32DJUI-9Ex7cRQ/s1600/dove+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwq-pOTdGlL1w__DVRCFL6XMcdhuVnj-aCNkAJzX_wPclIdBT47mwrZbd1Ttx1kinT94w1EnPlhDUhXbENZlsi3SQ3CshRySYhqfNZntKkSFW7e20jkacJD6dlrZCFMd32DJUI-9Ex7cRQ/s400/dove+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y93jue3HJ6drW4KH57FxogfcFseTYdFB0_eEzA1FXUexlIyimXPlcB0IUtgT4B__Q6fVAv4MaqP0-HunOX5m2AtKhz6GGnX5M1NpUNrIXke0IhIkTKK7zTesodUBl4BLMuCNRL26cJzV/s1600/dove+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y93jue3HJ6drW4KH57FxogfcFseTYdFB0_eEzA1FXUexlIyimXPlcB0IUtgT4B__Q6fVAv4MaqP0-HunOX5m2AtKhz6GGnX5M1NpUNrIXke0IhIkTKK7zTesodUBl4BLMuCNRL26cJzV/s400/dove+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HRomt9_4Dv1tYx-R1UZbTBpjr_YldGY2cwLFcyCwKEUR8qv2yWwbR7S1dbprj7qlpuulQY6DYeR7_47JwSbxPvueiYE4p18cpDU3SzgpZ9r52cfIdr_tDHmmjn3Uwz3I0nQ9kXUG1K-T/s1600/dove+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HRomt9_4Dv1tYx-R1UZbTBpjr_YldGY2cwLFcyCwKEUR8qv2yWwbR7S1dbprj7qlpuulQY6DYeR7_47JwSbxPvueiYE4p18cpDU3SzgpZ9r52cfIdr_tDHmmjn3Uwz3I0nQ9kXUG1K-T/s400/dove+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-90698186493091255442013-10-03T07:58:00.002-07:002013-10-03T07:58:42.097-07:00Jaeger confirmed as Parasitic by measurements<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Forwarded from Rick Brigham and Janet Hinshaw, via Mich-chat:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Greetings,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Some of you may already be aware of this, but the ill jaeger that was</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">initially found frequenting the beaches in Holland MI on 20 Sept, expired</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">on 22 Sept. It was picked up on the south side of the channel and</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">transferred to Janet Hinshaw at the University of Michigan Museum of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Zoology for analysis and has been added to their collection. Janet's study</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">of the bird confirmed it to be a Parasitic Jaeger, as most observers had</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">already surmised. She also concluded it to be an immature female. Janet has</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">forwarded the physical measurements of the bird. They are listed below for</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">those interested.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">exposed culmen 30.0mm</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">nostril-tip 13.6mm</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">depth 10.5mm</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">base of bill to nail 15.6, nail 14.7mm</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">tarsus 45.0mm</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">chord 316.5mm</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">tail 134mm</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">weight 303.0g (very thin)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">forearm 115mm</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">The last dimension is the clincher in this ID. Long-tailed Jaeger does not</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">achieve a greater forearm length than 102mm (Pyle 2008). Another supporting</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">characteristic for for Parasitic is based on the location of the gonys,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">anterior to the nostril.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Hope this brings closure to this story for some folks.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Rick Brigham</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Douglas MI</span>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-73197009951003146832013-09-27T12:17:00.002-07:002013-09-27T12:34:06.123-07:00The Holland State Park jaeger, and the morass that is juvenile jaeger IDSo you know the old adage "the best way to learn is to teach"? Well, that is the main purpose of what I am about to write. Bottom line is, I don't know jaegers very well, and I needed to force myself to get back up to speed (as much as a landlocked birder can anyway) in order to say anything intelligible on the recent jaeger sp. at Holland MI. <b>[To let the cat out of the bag: I am now confident this is a PAJA, but intially suspected LTJA.]</b><br />
<br />
So on Friday September 20th, I received a call from Curtis Dykstra that a darkish juvenile jaeger was sitting on the <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15216667">beach at Holland SP</a>, and that it had rounded central rectrices. I even received this photo (copyright Judy Manning) confirming this, in addition to the testimonies of multiple people standing at close range with scopes:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TA-JHEhDlHMuqq9N7FZBwHr3XU4fHQjY1w8P0pNTXithIqDZ8t8FbqIDNth87KkFo0-glQ1VReoUiEiQu3YLSL9u3ae5BIZjzZWV-XI4wSpYRqYN4F3H5uxE7ArSfA7rvMRgzs82tTRm/s1600/jaegerJUDY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TA-JHEhDlHMuqq9N7FZBwHr3XU4fHQjY1w8P0pNTXithIqDZ8t8FbqIDNth87KkFo0-glQ1VReoUiEiQu3YLSL9u3ae5BIZjzZWV-XI4wSpYRqYN4F3H5uxE7ArSfA7rvMRgzs82tTRm/s320/jaegerJUDY.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This photo shows clearly rounded central rectrices (=rectrix 1, aka. 'R1'). <b>[Aside: the bird actually only has one of its two R1s, (see below)]</b>. I mean, does anyone looking at this photo think the R1s are pointed? (but seen the detailed analysis below). So, according to my understanding, this eliminated a juvenile Parasitic Jaeger (PAJA) from the picture, securing the bird as either Long-tailed (LTJA) or Pomarine (POJA), both of which are state birds for me. So the 1.5 hour one way chase was on. Here are my photos from my 2 hour visit, with my full ID analysis embedded in no particular order:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNkhUTCvOGD62hKGmapKCk6YHSIuA9bIg47Q5CuoNJJjlkd4H7HcHd54ZXPEJMkhkKsyo7yIu8vDX5ZqtP16ScGR0NmT1_c4ShgZVXP0q8vZSeZbWpNxSAq9WRc8CAJwxwkm6er-tcBQj/s1600/aeger1j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNkhUTCvOGD62hKGmapKCk6YHSIuA9bIg47Q5CuoNJJjlkd4H7HcHd54ZXPEJMkhkKsyo7yIu8vDX5ZqtP16ScGR0NmT1_c4ShgZVXP0q8vZSeZbWpNxSAq9WRc8CAJwxwkm6er-tcBQj/s320/aeger1j.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The bird was amazingly tame, clearly with some kind of sickness/disease, including feather loss around the vent area, though when it flew its demeanor was active and strong.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoupTMP1H-fele3cDyhFCPJnQPypphHodLeUXLwtNm6-rN2U6D2U9i8qAIh92oLGTIR0Zj2fK26KaeGeWDbQJ5nv9rHTbSk8QVLY4SlRWZHd-qgpwHz43mnqg5PetPbj8RUMC-LDCzPHq/s1600/jaeger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoupTMP1H-fele3cDyhFCPJnQPypphHodLeUXLwtNm6-rN2U6D2U9i8qAIh92oLGTIR0Zj2fK26KaeGeWDbQJ5nv9rHTbSk8QVLY4SlRWZHd-qgpwHz43mnqg5PetPbj8RUMC-LDCzPHq/s320/jaeger2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The color of the scapular/mantle/wing covert edgings has been a source of some contention. Let's break it down. These feathers were edged in a yellow or blonde cast, lacking orange or rufous tones. Visitors the following day commented that these feathers were in fact 'buffy' or 'warm' toned (I will grant them buffy, just not rufous), and hinted that this favored PAJA over LTJA. I studied this bird from 20 feet for 2 hours (in overcast conditions), and can attest that although some of the marginal/lesser wing coverts had an oranger cast, the scapulars/mantle/grater coverts/tertials/primary tips did not have the warm cast of the 'classic' rufousy PAJAs, and I still contend this bird is not out of range for LTJA. So I count this field mark as a wash (ie. between PAJA and LTJA). Here is one example of a LTJA with even warmer edgings than this bird: <a href="http://www.philjeffrey.net/118_1882m.jpg">http://www.philjeffrey.net/118_1882m.jpg</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAE72ioV_uYUR550vx9GkoZ4dhkycP-UaYFga0bxtyRU3SMxAZhrTq3RU_TWfGNBNB8qB7vqg3IBsvx5wB75dK7qsbyj1TyruwdTB2p9VPJOrRdYG-0bUUZWqtC35AmNaeuUsHy4ihXBz/s1600/jaeger4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAE72ioV_uYUR550vx9GkoZ4dhkycP-UaYFga0bxtyRU3SMxAZhrTq3RU_TWfGNBNB8qB7vqg3IBsvx5wB75dK7qsbyj1TyruwdTB2p9VPJOrRdYG-0bUUZWqtC35AmNaeuUsHy4ihXBz/s320/jaeger4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Now note the 'messiness/jaggedness' of the uppertail covert edgings, lacking the evenly, cleanly, barred look more typical of Long-tailed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlqB0HDlFw9NSkLsMRzm8bFmNaaEG2x0yl3Hv9JNytvx2ZZMVPEqZQRqLvWLk2nmcb9YVhEmelTEi58ZbxJZRM44svePVX_9COC012UUDg3-5wLAYi8S-uwx9uEQdFe6ZloqGSaHGH0HV/s1600/jaeger5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlqB0HDlFw9NSkLsMRzm8bFmNaaEG2x0yl3Hv9JNytvx2ZZMVPEqZQRqLvWLk2nmcb9YVhEmelTEi58ZbxJZRM44svePVX_9COC012UUDg3-5wLAYi8S-uwx9uEQdFe6ZloqGSaHGH0HV/s320/jaeger5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is Pyle's treatment of uppertail coverts in juvenile jaegers, this bird clearly matching PAJA and being wrong for LTJA or POJA.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCe2wkXJhWpMWKhSk80lID9qouiuvlORSbyV-bJQaLjH89v8Oapn7bv9xAfS2pK2IlQmQyzSYy9Xl9hsw5S3jzOzOFXMCTtUPKQgdQIOwXzK6RK8cigGhu7HD8zuKbO7ksiM7-NU2Mefp/s1600/JaegerundertailPyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCe2wkXJhWpMWKhSk80lID9qouiuvlORSbyV-bJQaLjH89v8Oapn7bv9xAfS2pK2IlQmQyzSYy9Xl9hsw5S3jzOzOFXMCTtUPKQgdQIOwXzK6RK8cigGhu7HD8zuKbO7ksiM7-NU2Mefp/s320/JaegerundertailPyle.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
One oft-cited field mark for pale juvenile Long-taileds, is that the lower breast contrasts paler than the thin, dark breast band above it. This bird appears better for Parasitic here, with the breast band extending down into the upper belly:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAFuM3yDUa0NDi1QOqioCy4VtQEe0QVPko5bVPNmxhJvTUy4GUvpxf77y69j7FIGSOQCipMe7nVgSWdOPqk6IKdvGR_pYNpNTSP-NH8E4oIB7RVg4Y3QOb747mo8X4vr8BUPR3uk3ZIh3/s1600/jaeger6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAFuM3yDUa0NDi1QOqioCy4VtQEe0QVPko5bVPNmxhJvTUy4GUvpxf77y69j7FIGSOQCipMe7nVgSWdOPqk6IKdvGR_pYNpNTSP-NH8E4oIB7RVg4Y3QOb747mo8X4vr8BUPR3uk3ZIh3/s320/jaeger6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Compare to <a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/birdfellow-production/content/bird_photos/000/019/950/identification/2013-08-02%20LTJA-juv-cr-Newport.jpg?1375631996">this juv LTJA</a> from Oregon, which shows the typical pattern of a thinner breast band not extending this far down.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One field mark immediately pointed out by Tim Baerwald (among many others; Tim correctly ID'ed this bird immediately PAJA, and I greatly appreciate his input) was the bird's short-tailed appearance. I am not talking about R1, but about the amount of bird behind the trailing edge of the wing, without reference to R1 extension. Compare my next two photos to the, lengthy, attenuated rear end of <a href="http://www.billhubick.com/images/long-tailed_jaeger_20060826.jpg">this obvious juvenile Long-tailed</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rOYIoZYlxijVK8yfnvVA8P1sQq9NZKpolxeAm_-cRZbBXwBoqCgkquELfENZjQYgToadsMbc-Bo4hUalFV7KgMwzFB4aceaEsguzzdZQfCX1dZwZfdoFFEqCrp6A3qXucoAc2yV8_Utb/s1600/jaeger7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rOYIoZYlxijVK8yfnvVA8P1sQq9NZKpolxeAm_-cRZbBXwBoqCgkquELfENZjQYgToadsMbc-Bo4hUalFV7KgMwzFB4aceaEsguzzdZQfCX1dZwZfdoFFEqCrp6A3qXucoAc2yV8_Utb/s320/jaeger7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Also note how the Holland jaeger carries the weight throughout the belly evenly, rather than in the chest, like LTJA does. Here are some LTJAs for comparison, <a href="http://www.capecodbirds.org/LTJAjuvSBch0802b.jpg">BIRD 1</a>, <a href="http://www.oiseaux-birds.com/charadriiformes/stercorariides/labbe-longue-queue/labbe-lg-queue-juv-dark-tg.jpg">BIRD 2</a>, <a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/7911184814_a4327a86d2_z.jpg">BIRD 3</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD1txZ392Vg9hLb2fVnlyfLyUivSajZG6NEojNrGf0FYzE4dlO3YTVDqdt-ncGYbA_7_ZVPALMMVNPDSYphFOy2P5Q-vUFdYRTuv-EkGOAUsioNgit57IdEacH4GDLonZqZwr8uSCQwVD/s1600/jaeger8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD1txZ392Vg9hLb2fVnlyfLyUivSajZG6NEojNrGf0FYzE4dlO3YTVDqdt-ncGYbA_7_ZVPALMMVNPDSYphFOy2P5Q-vUFdYRTuv-EkGOAUsioNgit57IdEacH4GDLonZqZwr8uSCQwVD/s320/jaeger8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
and Kaufman's illustration of these traits: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBKb1r7GWq2bBhzAuHogKfuQzEUnuM8xIF2yoYgh2DskX9ES4ZjMVCoIt3S-jNUsz4-4Kba-o4B5X6u3NXjr4BqSs0YHOoj1GHq7amYJ2rwfSjIDbUv2DKuhfxAsE-q5ilEf1hzR7L1lx/s1600/Kaufmanjaegerbodys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBKb1r7GWq2bBhzAuHogKfuQzEUnuM8xIF2yoYgh2DskX9ES4ZjMVCoIt3S-jNUsz4-4Kba-o4B5X6u3NXjr4BqSs0YHOoj1GHq7amYJ2rwfSjIDbUv2DKuhfxAsE-q5ilEf1hzR7L1lx/s320/Kaufmanjaegerbodys.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This trait really is notibeable and very useful for ID if seen well, at least on many individuals. Another way of putting this is that the Holland bird's wings are wider than the amount of bird behind them, as visible here:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeCaooTARpmaEanV4ALmZNPqtr7evxM_Er5Qg8qhPtD1CSh65Ccy_YqyWtfVCHN4sBojHSs8U05G5qR6LPqvtz_gs873t6svE1yEiLiaunDJz2Hg17Py6Ww_jbyOalrCNvTaCIzqxN7WA/s1600/jaegerwithlighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeCaooTARpmaEanV4ALmZNPqtr7evxM_Er5Qg8qhPtD1CSh65Ccy_YqyWtfVCHN4sBojHSs8U05G5qR6LPqvtz_gs873t6svE1yEiLiaunDJz2Hg17Py6Ww_jbyOalrCNvTaCIzqxN7WA/s320/jaegerwithlighthouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I really believe that given good views, that these two traits can be accurately judged on most or all individuals, given sufficient looks. And both of these heavily favor PAJA on the Holland bird. As of the time of my field observation I was not aware of how to apply these traits.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLhAxq_ptNZUKmSc8zlPkIQGzxYdpApjM0ysoTE4i9peUBEpOMgWHih6CyzHiTafQlDNE5gK3onk1kZvjNshoKvk4TaqCnN7QrxCDzWNRx41crxxodexaGrk-sAodT5gqe9XhvWydH1DM/s1600/jaeger9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLhAxq_ptNZUKmSc8zlPkIQGzxYdpApjM0ysoTE4i9peUBEpOMgWHih6CyzHiTafQlDNE5gK3onk1kZvjNshoKvk4TaqCnN7QrxCDzWNRx41crxxodexaGrk-sAodT5gqe9XhvWydH1DM/s320/jaeger9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As others have noted, the uppertail and undertail coverts were messily barred (not the neat, straight, stripes more typical of LTJA and POJA), and they had a cinnamon background color. Many have commented that this color is suggestive (even diagnostic?) of PAJA. I am not positive whether this is diagnostic, but it does favor PAJA. If LTJA can show this color, I have not found any evidence it can (someone please let me know of photos of such birds)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiwVdlyKB_z0Upud7cEIZMyUoT-cqjKyv6yXo4s4Af0EOy8_6H0lb14ASSb5eFun4oA8nLWhNOHZxa6rgd8YAgpnuXL3keHEU8Lklv1e6rw1N-BDmPNzxJVOn4-7xZLU2_nOxwNFC5JRy/s1600/jaeger10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiwVdlyKB_z0Upud7cEIZMyUoT-cqjKyv6yXo4s4Af0EOy8_6H0lb14ASSb5eFun4oA8nLWhNOHZxa6rgd8YAgpnuXL3keHEU8Lklv1e6rw1N-BDmPNzxJVOn4-7xZLU2_nOxwNFC5JRy/s320/jaeger10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The face had streaking and a pale blonde/yellowish nape, the same blonde cast as the upperpart fringing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8UGB_QA65ftq5XhPVxMU3N78YFLm6LhWZAx630iXcC0ImtVJMeNBUacuXxzH2zhDRAO4cDkIEma77WQ77D8kgGDs7tBljeNmPuDnXviZTRcahxgv1a0U2qN8zXrz-RuvKzMaR4LIu-so/s1600/jaeger11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8UGB_QA65ftq5XhPVxMU3N78YFLm6LhWZAx630iXcC0ImtVJMeNBUacuXxzH2zhDRAO4cDkIEma77WQ77D8kgGDs7tBljeNmPuDnXviZTRcahxgv1a0U2qN8zXrz-RuvKzMaR4LIu-so/s320/jaeger11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The feet and legs were mixed blue-gray and black, with the black limited to the distal half of the feet. Pyle shows that in PAJA and POJA, this heavily favors a hatching-year (juvenile of 2013) bird. He says nothing for LTJA however.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFcx5A4cy3IWiNDuWAlFTQDs4VxWZFK8EFv1_DRyKVnX6JABpPy_B_XZ2-v79gxpAGwcyRYBuixcrXIxyDVfGAqVcSmfkApjjJETYKnByZSIbP-2lFwnQgLnmPpqv2u-noE0a90w7HoXl/s1600/jaeger12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFcx5A4cy3IWiNDuWAlFTQDs4VxWZFK8EFv1_DRyKVnX6JABpPy_B_XZ2-v79gxpAGwcyRYBuixcrXIxyDVfGAqVcSmfkApjjJETYKnByZSIbP-2lFwnQgLnmPpqv2u-noE0a90w7HoXl/s320/jaeger12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPpQGrTMv9_YCSBxqiAg56beL7eXoTo_vs_vq9b-rTqObox4753DnPsMEUNaIaeo-6BESuVUbs_MzmlQKC0Y5_DxAP19nRUVEU-25fV7o2SN2VLfnHbimMjZvUdqYEDZyJIqHtYfHmC5V/s1600/jaegertail9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPpQGrTMv9_YCSBxqiAg56beL7eXoTo_vs_vq9b-rTqObox4753DnPsMEUNaIaeo-6BESuVUbs_MzmlQKC0Y5_DxAP19nRUVEU-25fV7o2SN2VLfnHbimMjZvUdqYEDZyJIqHtYfHmC5V/s320/jaegertail9.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-wnD56mF9xS8ADBS7yjyFTARDsUV6OE5nMuLpmdDHeQyfspUbxWVC9-sIA5UYmgYB8VWzOIUpGNctFYZzw52FW2hkrK2ddcHMP9tKv3Mle4OUM5piAAQrDShXsSlSVRMxJQmj9ObjN2s/s1600/jaeger13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-wnD56mF9xS8ADBS7yjyFTARDsUV6OE5nMuLpmdDHeQyfspUbxWVC9-sIA5UYmgYB8VWzOIUpGNctFYZzw52FW2hkrK2ddcHMP9tKv3Mle4OUM5piAAQrDShXsSlSVRMxJQmj9ObjN2s/s320/jaeger13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGFvaWu9gZ9Cs-HtnIEZK9Htw0vB4hiAs5C087q_nFvnGigLtxwEWlFp3C29S5CNh7m5zau-qILCUU2GM7f4lW8tPSnUBkA9Px2w0gQl9idCe2bQ4IQ44ZdZ5Fb8-tHq4nvFDRzoZ1UJS/s1600/jaegerBEAK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGFvaWu9gZ9Cs-HtnIEZK9Htw0vB4hiAs5C087q_nFvnGigLtxwEWlFp3C29S5CNh7m5zau-qILCUU2GM7f4lW8tPSnUBkA9Px2w0gQl9idCe2bQ4IQ44ZdZ5Fb8-tHq4nvFDRzoZ1UJS/s320/jaegerBEAK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The bird was much smaller than Herring Gulls. POJA is basically the wingspan of Ring-billed Gull, PAJA like Laughing Gull, and LTJA like Black-legged Kittiwake. So I am not sure this helps too much.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTSjL7iWsCjS1Dc3I_4cC2tKgb76qDrwJ3sWbRePqHsKWJDw7IG42TCmjlV_CdpWfmCFQbvQ0Mwpg-K5yYapNYc7g6pHguSL_teIpVZGFFrt1_PLkQ_CIXGeZja_GCdDhklIBqMh05Agl/s1600/jaegerSIZEWITHHERG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTSjL7iWsCjS1Dc3I_4cC2tKgb76qDrwJ3sWbRePqHsKWJDw7IG42TCmjlV_CdpWfmCFQbvQ0Mwpg-K5yYapNYc7g6pHguSL_teIpVZGFFrt1_PLkQ_CIXGeZja_GCdDhklIBqMh05Agl/s320/jaegerSIZEWITHHERG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_q-K-miTlwjays5lKirh1Q-hiVF7viAcci_NHljxWXzgXsVs6Gk62VQtnJpKNZq9X7I5uH9jksfkLvzfUwHWaD8QqkH9F3BKpLQYY-6iWu4F7pMErLL6zoTReJUi728vkN3Pw_HdHiYF/s1600/jaegerwithHERG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_q-K-miTlwjays5lKirh1Q-hiVF7viAcci_NHljxWXzgXsVs6Gk62VQtnJpKNZq9X7I5uH9jksfkLvzfUwHWaD8QqkH9F3BKpLQYY-6iWu4F7pMErLL6zoTReJUi728vkN3Pw_HdHiYF/s320/jaegerwithHERG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Looking very closely at the tip of the first rectrix (R1), it appeared rounded from every angle I could view it, which was not surprising considering the photo from Judy Manning:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGkgY8JtEJFr4X7hbJDBLNAtHWyoxo9DhK-pfFthD592OIFkoz7QsXeVes4cyT2QSnD4FL0IZSyfTE_ZnMETztRzr_YgbkNGC4mWfupCD3bQlnEXei6FUNozbBxXwMCyBeO_stampbmvR/s1600/jaegertail3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGkgY8JtEJFr4X7hbJDBLNAtHWyoxo9DhK-pfFthD592OIFkoz7QsXeVes4cyT2QSnD4FL0IZSyfTE_ZnMETztRzr_YgbkNGC4mWfupCD3bQlnEXei6FUNozbBxXwMCyBeO_stampbmvR/s320/jaegertail3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDSsZHJqEIY28H9mMKi4TOfNo7vCbH3eIz_2WM5NFImO9w__aQTUaPbBpMYX4VjkeFZ9YzC8SHs0wWZleTk1PE8XD7YP4ggQ0Ddb3IwsIoCXmdgTq6r6RlSQDUj_d8EOml6Gu51zsilsh/s1600/jaegertail4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDSsZHJqEIY28H9mMKi4TOfNo7vCbH3eIz_2WM5NFImO9w__aQTUaPbBpMYX4VjkeFZ9YzC8SHs0wWZleTk1PE8XD7YP4ggQ0Ddb3IwsIoCXmdgTq6r6RlSQDUj_d8EOml6Gu51zsilsh/s320/jaegertail4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJIXSM8K1aqpcp-pVBbt1zqlnFwjmpgUQrWBtaKXF1Rlei9sVq2AW9u1HPGUkT1-ST21Vm-P4Z-CZr8eG9q5JKV-JtDFpofh3DfYKzcBE0VZfQl0l_e4YviUhGYRxBnE9T43Y31KFG6To/s1600/jaegertail5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJIXSM8K1aqpcp-pVBbt1zqlnFwjmpgUQrWBtaKXF1Rlei9sVq2AW9u1HPGUkT1-ST21Vm-P4Z-CZr8eG9q5JKV-JtDFpofh3DfYKzcBE0VZfQl0l_e4YviUhGYRxBnE9T43Y31KFG6To/s320/jaegertail5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDuqV6WL6V4suBe1HmvXgbJDetxc30MYwwJrcjSgWX3kvX53RSfBNE-isiI79cAy1TvlsgorwSqae3mzl4Gv4dh-JW-QtebADyZLunbeNihu2_1g4tR_9sK210e8PRau8QHLlkQ8sAsAT/s1600/jaegertail6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDuqV6WL6V4suBe1HmvXgbJDetxc30MYwwJrcjSgWX3kvX53RSfBNE-isiI79cAy1TvlsgorwSqae3mzl4Gv4dh-JW-QtebADyZLunbeNihu2_1g4tR_9sK210e8PRau8QHLlkQ8sAsAT/s320/jaegertail6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrvo2JCiLCAcBRrTE7-zZj-qpWuhahbQb8CltKbuxiakgYeLdrCor6PafaBqlRUkt_2q8S6wBhCpuEJYh1wEgbanltrycPDttxRF5rEiumR0rXMgbfitgdzpYSD7hUrmsl4adHopcCce0/s1600/jaegertail7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrvo2JCiLCAcBRrTE7-zZj-qpWuhahbQb8CltKbuxiakgYeLdrCor6PafaBqlRUkt_2q8S6wBhCpuEJYh1wEgbanltrycPDttxRF5rEiumR0rXMgbfitgdzpYSD7hUrmsl4adHopcCce0/s320/jaegertail7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And here is my best shot of this feather:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV8Va428asGght_x9hC3QarOZIQBEUXc0qDIje9e80ju8tITBo3QR2-3Fz1ptzimLmo7Re-HphtzfgeqVQmaaMwaL6y2yRoYx_ohwwWnN0PJkNfTcNAhyvvZEI7Hlhdk2V6cuyS3yhiyY/s1600/jaegertail8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV8Va428asGght_x9hC3QarOZIQBEUXc0qDIje9e80ju8tITBo3QR2-3Fz1ptzimLmo7Re-HphtzfgeqVQmaaMwaL6y2yRoYx_ohwwWnN0PJkNfTcNAhyvvZEI7Hlhdk2V6cuyS3yhiyY/s320/jaegertail8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I say feather, since it is clear by looking at the translucence of the second rectrices, that there is only one R1 feather, the other being broken or missing. Thanks to Chip Francke for picking up on this in the field. Now how to interpret this feather shape. Here are the illustrations from Pyle (Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part II) and Kaufman (Advanced Birding). First, juveniles of the three species together in Pyle:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSKSFWrC1GRvdu0OyGZ0PhJKvFU6NE3p2v_g19GnsLFRXlofUXkB-PJfZXQEg7QE43gHnEnunOO-vp7K2HwXmwN5u_xvf3Pj6yoyV8omUVx_FY9eEj9iKtN8tRlxTIF-8nZw3ufo-vv7U/s1600/R1juvjaegersPYLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSKSFWrC1GRvdu0OyGZ0PhJKvFU6NE3p2v_g19GnsLFRXlofUXkB-PJfZXQEg7QE43gHnEnunOO-vp7K2HwXmwN5u_xvf3Pj6yoyV8omUVx_FY9eEj9iKtN8tRlxTIF-8nZw3ufo-vv7U/s320/R1juvjaegersPYLE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And Kaufman's illustration of all three juveniles:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtjdNxjhhYFM_xxDlsiQ-3OcCz0USrYjTInxTj3TMCk1h2YJnVqvvPFCSuvTIGB6ayvRUBouKvFNZqheXANYUXq8XEczVi1w44V4Q-htDiW24JfFIhqMH4-4TY0l0ZirL51fMfcR62bnq/s1600/Kaufmanjaegertails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtjdNxjhhYFM_xxDlsiQ-3OcCz0USrYjTInxTj3TMCk1h2YJnVqvvPFCSuvTIGB6ayvRUBouKvFNZqheXANYUXq8XEczVi1w44V4Q-htDiW24JfFIhqMH4-4TY0l0ZirL51fMfcR62bnq/s320/Kaufmanjaegertails.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here are Pyle's illustrations for PAJA only (by age; juveniles [=HY] at the left, A and B):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFdsgd2LP64eg2hESkIeH-BPpUztgwFv-vsLHXt0S_luM3BXtaeNBKd8ZdF2vUvIAPI8v_PaJ82bS8GrYBbZL8hD192aJkEWUYBRa5ldruyauHx9jXm_1b1Icp_4rEE40Gnm_htfu7OGw/s1600/PAJAtailPyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFdsgd2LP64eg2hESkIeH-BPpUztgwFv-vsLHXt0S_luM3BXtaeNBKd8ZdF2vUvIAPI8v_PaJ82bS8GrYBbZL8hD192aJkEWUYBRa5ldruyauHx9jXm_1b1Icp_4rEE40Gnm_htfu7OGw/s320/PAJAtailPyle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And POJA (juveniles also at the left; A and B)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D3oKRnt5H8RFnoylQdtumkwdiVfOnNBm3JsyRI1MBxgI-slhCus4sQ4RPHmOixLUKEAXq9v7pie2p1BQWGYcYNgVfgw4cH5Q7KaNudrGFkVVTAN2EZevSawFYjKCWtAuQ0kUKT17MVmR/s1600/POJAtailPyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D3oKRnt5H8RFnoylQdtumkwdiVfOnNBm3JsyRI1MBxgI-slhCus4sQ4RPHmOixLUKEAXq9v7pie2p1BQWGYcYNgVfgw4cH5Q7KaNudrGFkVVTAN2EZevSawFYjKCWtAuQ0kUKT17MVmR/s320/POJAtailPyle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Pyle does not give such a figure for LTJA.<br />
<br />
Finally, here is the R1 of the Holland jaeger after it was found dead, taken in-hand:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RNMAcNIwd_q6DtqYACyG5bnrmwrPY3czxYXMhJ-Ixq6a5t9lGco00e6GzFh-RTCTejlzaMIsLwOcoUAZBSwBFS7FmNA5xoBAuFACRWroV_92IxuLtqgTam7rj4uhoDD2x4cSilnhTYSG/s1600/jaegerR1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RNMAcNIwd_q6DtqYACyG5bnrmwrPY3czxYXMhJ-Ixq6a5t9lGco00e6GzFh-RTCTejlzaMIsLwOcoUAZBSwBFS7FmNA5xoBAuFACRWroV_92IxuLtqgTam7rj4uhoDD2x4cSilnhTYSG/s320/jaegerR1a.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqDoC6p2gJ4sOfl-N6mVQxCuBAZ4HKjDi8L7XQQDTbu5hpXAbevXBp7-70Gn1TujCuCmjK4E552GHDn36aJrr8pAnTIjXHFC2gBSd5yD17j7ZxeY1d-KBN7M-XydH2HbDb3g9KM9-6kA7/s1600/jaegerR1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqDoC6p2gJ4sOfl-N6mVQxCuBAZ4HKjDi8L7XQQDTbu5hpXAbevXBp7-70Gn1TujCuCmjK4E552GHDn36aJrr8pAnTIjXHFC2gBSd5yD17j7ZxeY1d-KBN7M-XydH2HbDb3g9KM9-6kA7/s320/jaegerR1c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Noq9LlFdCgPJ273Enhm7bBbHKg9LxklsGEQMqM9JUBniNd-oLUcFpafFdsp4BYUzmB6BntZsdOWjWMQCUjFMURPiXELh_W77fuMFJ4yKcEPNoMjZMtOPKVfnTy7kjo7xMmQ9-uy4SZgb/s1600/jaegerR1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Noq9LlFdCgPJ273Enhm7bBbHKg9LxklsGEQMqM9JUBniNd-oLUcFpafFdsp4BYUzmB6BntZsdOWjWMQCUjFMURPiXELh_W77fuMFJ4yKcEPNoMjZMtOPKVfnTy7kjo7xMmQ9-uy4SZgb/s1600/jaegerR1b.jpg" /></a></div>
I think it is abundantly clear that the Holland bird has an R1 shape that does not perfectly match any of the illustrations in my references, or at least it is not clear what is the closest match. There is a SLIGHT point on the feather, but this is only seen clearly in the hand, and it totally contradicts the field observations and in life photos of the bird in which this feather always appeared rounded (see above). And I would call this a very bluntly pointed feather tip. (Aside: the Collins Guide to Birds of Europe refers to the R1 of juv.LTJA as "bluntly pointed"; well which is it? pointed or blunt?).<br />
<br />
Here is my best interpretation of this field mark for the Holland bird. First, if you were to judge this bird by Kaufman's illustration, you would have to say it best matches the shape of LTJA. If you judge it by Pyle's illustration, it is close to choice C in Fig. 519 (PAJA), but not as pointy. It more closely matches choices E or F in Fig. 519, which are LTJA. Also note how Kaufman illustrates juv. POJA as having slight pointed tips at the rachis, but in that instance the feather appears rectangular and flat-tipped, but with the slight point. I don't think that is a good match for our bird.<br />
<br />
Another thing which hasn't yet been mentioned, is that there is no guarantee this feather is juvenal. If in fact the juvenal feather was lost (perhaps with the other R1 in whatever incident caused it to lose the first one), and this is in fact formative (vernacular: "first winter"), then it is a very close match to choice C in Fig. 517 (POJA!). Since Pyle doesn't illustrate R1s in LTJA across ages, I am not sure whether this bird also matches that species in formative plumage. Clearly, this field mark is greatly oversimplified by field guides, and it needs to be applied extremely gingerly!<br />
<br />
The take home for me is as follows (though as stated earlier, all of this is subject to correction and I welcome everyone's thoughts on where I am getting it wrong):<br />
<br />
1) jaeger R1 tip shapes are a morass of variability which are oversimplified by the literature.<br />
2) obviously pointed R1s, as long as one is CERTAIN that they are juvenal feathers and not formative feathers, do appear to heavily favor PAJA (presumably diagnostic, but who knows?)<br />
3) slightly pointed R1s like in the Holland bird are not distinguishable from truly rounded ones under normal field conditions, even in photographs (!!)<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">4) b/c of #3, rounded-appearing juv. R1s are **NOT USEFUL** for identification of juvenile jaegers!</span><br />
<br />
Item 4 is a total revelation for me. I have always thought that a good look is plenty to establish a rounded R1, and that this was diagnostic of either LTJA or POJA, but I no longer believe it. I even wonder if this field mark has any value? If anyone takes issue with this conclusion, please post your comment below. I love being proved wrong, as I think it is where the most progress in birding is made. All I care about here is getting the ID right, not being right up front.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Another point I want to bring home is that the Holland bird's R1 was not worn or abraded, as postulated by some to explain how a PAJA could show this. The barbs were quite fresh.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now let's get to the issue of bill proportions. Here is how Kaufman illustrates this (apparently diagnostic?) trait:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAQl_ZyJiVdDiFuu6K5KS6_pmB7PHE-bsTZSioMboenZuBVdoZ44g7HUYfPeJ-Hag-_0X_dwiL78H6WXcTWK_YqvUo3Y27Mk1zismY7Pr0iE2yfGWL57kUVRqSOd3UZQL4FlfnQE0NCPb/s1600/kaufmanjaegerbills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAQl_ZyJiVdDiFuu6K5KS6_pmB7PHE-bsTZSioMboenZuBVdoZ44g7HUYfPeJ-Hag-_0X_dwiL78H6WXcTWK_YqvUo3Y27Mk1zismY7Pr0iE2yfGWL57kUVRqSOd3UZQL4FlfnQE0NCPb/s320/kaufmanjaegerbills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The caption is self-explanatory. Here is my analysis of this trait on the Holland bird. Note that the distribution of black on the nail is much less than the actual nail itself! (very important detail!) One must use the anatomy, not the pigmentation, to accurately measure this trait. From the in-hand photo of the specimen and my best in life shot. The # of pixels between each line was measured in photoshop and an exact ratio calculated:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZFAUIhlOGjv6jHXMA91x5uCja5r2SnE-TEW_Tpbf09HdrLSfQS3lEs7kEtZ7u5vXz3bLmy3QHIda5F3mUVUXJeC-ZFPSe0jRpr2PaBwN5Gd4T7-kWDiVnYYWEIMWn-NlhTjI3cyqWzae/s1600/BillINHANDratio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZFAUIhlOGjv6jHXMA91x5uCja5r2SnE-TEW_Tpbf09HdrLSfQS3lEs7kEtZ7u5vXz3bLmy3QHIda5F3mUVUXJeC-ZFPSe0jRpr2PaBwN5Gd4T7-kWDiVnYYWEIMWn-NlhTjI3cyqWzae/s1600/BillINHANDratio.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2ZoHYMYVEkyxPMnNPKP9fePmiyxDhUOzS0YSVVv74HAUjtV0zJWw-H5o7PIEnXyae-zs-tqQdgdUbJPcCzO21Zmw4u9_54FeXI_8NaV5ae5ZKGXMiTTuDRQC99wReLOA2DDz6RYG5k1C/s1600/Jaegerbillratio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2ZoHYMYVEkyxPMnNPKP9fePmiyxDhUOzS0YSVVv74HAUjtV0zJWw-H5o7PIEnXyae-zs-tqQdgdUbJPcCzO21Zmw4u9_54FeXI_8NaV5ae5ZKGXMiTTuDRQC99wReLOA2DDz6RYG5k1C/s320/Jaegerbillratio.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The ratio appears to be about 44-45%, as calculated by using the pixel measuring tool in Photoshop. Here is an overlay of the Kaufman figure with both shots.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGsYpWx0hB7CXVNx64YOxQpgPgaMmjxhqdipAflK1tZWQJnWTz0jEgf0T3RhFBi5KkE1dhkQYPV2Pk_5gXB7Zqs5WHMZzQSecZniF5HBMndyYIMnrNhDTmgajkcSdPSsL_rFVV0RhGQkd/s1600/jaegerbillsOVERLAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGsYpWx0hB7CXVNx64YOxQpgPgaMmjxhqdipAflK1tZWQJnWTz0jEgf0T3RhFBi5KkE1dhkQYPV2Pk_5gXB7Zqs5WHMZzQSecZniF5HBMndyYIMnrNhDTmgajkcSdPSsL_rFVV0RhGQkd/s320/jaegerbillsOVERLAY.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My judgment of this trait is that the Holland bird is closest to LTJA, but that it may be inermediate and not helpful for ID. But at the very least I would argue that this trait does not favor PAJA. Some have also mentioned the position of the gonys (the angle on the lower mandible) is supportive of PAJA, but compare it to Kaufman's illustration. If anything this also seems to either favor LTJA or perhaps be intermediate. Since I believe the Holland bird to be a PAJA, the take home would be:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1) nail to bill ratios are variable, not static, as illustrated (there is apparently some age-related variation as well, see Pyle)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2) this field mark is supporting, never diagnostic (except perhaps at the extremes?)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3) the Holland bird's bill ratio is indeterminate, but not inconsistent with LTJA</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think that's enough for a first volley! I am comfortable calling this bird a juv. PAJA on the LTJA end of the spectrum. So far, no measurements or DNA analysis have been reported from the specimen. Hopefully we will get this confirmation at some point. I look forward to alternate views (corrections?) to those I've put forth, and I want to thank Curtis Dykstra, Carl and Judy Manning, Mike and Jeremy Overway for finding the bird and spreading the word, to Tim Baerwald for his quick correction and detailed laundry list of field marks supporting PAJA (extremely helpful), Josh Kamp and Marc North for asking why this wasn't a PAJA, and Adam Byrne, Brad Murphy, Scott Terry, and Joe Kaplan for their detailed analyses of this very instructive bird.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
PS. here are the in-hand shots I later received of the specimen </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5ig8kxaQK14mvSGHLiBHp5Vz8kLp59ozu07HEY_2vfYWkiS30BQrfvwiOTAG7kxLAbEgbMyF-sgoKAgvOzzKIL6Om6RXzdk9se9iWt2i5KjGHJnrXb-lYz6He1PaMj4wZZryexgcYRw6/s1600/jaegerEDITED1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5ig8kxaQK14mvSGHLiBHp5Vz8kLp59ozu07HEY_2vfYWkiS30BQrfvwiOTAG7kxLAbEgbMyF-sgoKAgvOzzKIL6Om6RXzdk9se9iWt2i5KjGHJnrXb-lYz6He1PaMj4wZZryexgcYRw6/s320/jaegerEDITED1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQCveh4WLuqf-Av3v2h40Sw3HZEG9spK1tv4f7PErrAEYq3Xf5pT12lkOT5PfhqspmqFxRkT5011XY-7HIm07hOPtQh4p0pSqraeTbe8yAtewoHLSIhkzXT4R8zcyKfpZ7YjY5Dxh0jic/s1600/jaegerEDITED2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQCveh4WLuqf-Av3v2h40Sw3HZEG9spK1tv4f7PErrAEYq3Xf5pT12lkOT5PfhqspmqFxRkT5011XY-7HIm07hOPtQh4p0pSqraeTbe8yAtewoHLSIhkzXT4R8zcyKfpZ7YjY5Dxh0jic/s320/jaegerEDITED2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBkdvyjA1DU_3XxMdbrv-j-gg9zG2aSbao2ScEXBrcRN0jAyY-cWW8O2o1RF70ayFV8kmd4o8xqeAZ_kQLbY9RA0tXVTBJ-qXdQw8MbVu847KFBwutlVst_0IE3N8B0jpi8REYQ_FecCQ/s1600/jaegerEDITED3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBkdvyjA1DU_3XxMdbrv-j-gg9zG2aSbao2ScEXBrcRN0jAyY-cWW8O2o1RF70ayFV8kmd4o8xqeAZ_kQLbY9RA0tXVTBJ-qXdQw8MbVu847KFBwutlVst_0IE3N8B0jpi8REYQ_FecCQ/s320/jaegerEDITED3.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xsSEz1u8-BcKZT1HinhXlImS_jlwzvTUAIARVy1CXJiWCMfxmu5enquHtH4Cr_L4AVplYEklrWDEW8wO9sYt8J0NdqjCfhBQiHPcvuILeo5rdAt2rgZJ-S8BlkYKGcM135dVy_6892ST/s1600/jaegeredited4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xsSEz1u8-BcKZT1HinhXlImS_jlwzvTUAIARVy1CXJiWCMfxmu5enquHtH4Cr_L4AVplYEklrWDEW8wO9sYt8J0NdqjCfhBQiHPcvuILeo5rdAt2rgZJ-S8BlkYKGcM135dVy_6892ST/s320/jaegeredited4.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVDa0Em7PAQHkOCc6IHpHJ-nMNer71_ks_zMHvsCAV7xB6t4kPIr4p250iTU0a01dor9anr4CyJTmd4Hnl1qoss4A-55XbYPr4tiAx8rIGCeXeTJvy5uRhz34KXCz32UMObQV3g66grby/s1600/jaegerEDTIED4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVDa0Em7PAQHkOCc6IHpHJ-nMNer71_ks_zMHvsCAV7xB6t4kPIr4p250iTU0a01dor9anr4CyJTmd4Hnl1qoss4A-55XbYPr4tiAx8rIGCeXeTJvy5uRhz34KXCz32UMObQV3g66grby/s320/jaegerEDTIED4.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-25248166789696347062013-09-19T07:40:00.002-07:002013-09-19T07:44:20.091-07:00Kent Co. Buff-breasted Sandpiper quest continues (year 4)Unsurprisingly, four years of effort to find a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in my home county (Kent), has failed. I do not have statistics on this, but the # of times I have gone out specifically with that species in mind, targeting microhabitat and weather conditions during the approx. Aug 15-Sept 20 peak window of occurrence, has to be approaching 100. So I am something like 0/80. Folks in Berrien County, Muskegon County, etc., may understand what that feels like <i>in concept</i>, but will not have too much empathy for this condition. :) My expectation is that this species might be found in Kent County once per decade or so, with annual effort. We shall see.<br />
<br />
So since mid August I have again been focusing my efforts on the celery flats near 84th and Wilson Ave SW of Byron Center, MI. I especially try to time my visits during inclement weather, which has a well-known habit of knocking migrants out of the atmosphere and putting them down on habitats which they might not otherwise have stopped to use. Today, for the first time, this resulted in these American Golden-Plovers (7).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInd5CUQvedBqZWtgpCeB4RIhnFqCAER46CB2lZm-T-rVQquueUTCKILqX9Gh12i_9G5fuXzRX0ND6kVTt0W7VsvxDf_7aGsDi7lu_u7XgrzUhE5QyHvNRM1BcXOevapx7sK8FY_7PfceO/s1600/amgp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInd5CUQvedBqZWtgpCeB4RIhnFqCAER46CB2lZm-T-rVQquueUTCKILqX9Gh12i_9G5fuXzRX0ND6kVTt0W7VsvxDf_7aGsDi7lu_u7XgrzUhE5QyHvNRM1BcXOevapx7sK8FY_7PfceO/s320/amgp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
See <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15206143">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15206143</a></div>
<br />
This is not the only area currently with habitat. Here is a map showing the other fields currently with flat, unvegetated, terrain, which are a part of my "BBSA loop" currently.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKVhyphenhyphennGEaAhOX4n4JhaFdy5HlRvWLtz2Wcg2CPWAmuKA6FHwRmtYnalZzY01jnxU9SmVni_Oku4yNrd1-wUnYyx3BSEFEjED6mu0WNCmeY5v_gNiRu5ASVkwmXtVEgOft-Em-TyQTnhkb/s1600/BBSA+fields+Sept+19+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKVhyphenhyphennGEaAhOX4n4JhaFdy5HlRvWLtz2Wcg2CPWAmuKA6FHwRmtYnalZzY01jnxU9SmVni_Oku4yNrd1-wUnYyx3BSEFEjED6mu0WNCmeY5v_gNiRu5ASVkwmXtVEgOft-Em-TyQTnhkb/s320/BBSA+fields+Sept+19+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I lump the four western fields into that previous eBird checklist as a traveling count, and lump the other four into another traveling count, which is here:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15206266">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15206266</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
How many more years of checking before us bird-deprived Kent County listers strike gold? Anyone want to take bets?</div>
Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-42566589678222658502013-03-12T06:01:00.000-07:002013-03-12T06:01:02.805-07:00Update on Ross's Goose candidate, March 12The bird spent the night at the 100th St flooding in Caledonia with the 11 Greater White-fronteds, and I got much better looks at the Ross's this morning, March 12. It does indeed appear to be a pure Ross's (or within variation of what we define as pure Ross's currently, more accurately stated!). Here is checklist, video, photos, and discussion:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13373222">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13373222</a>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-17329244459741226572013-03-11T19:22:00.000-07:002013-03-11T19:31:42.507-07:00Ross's Goose candidate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Getting straight to the point: here is try #2 at adding Ross's Goose (ROGO) to my county list. The first attempt ended with a bird that may or may not have been a pure ROGO, that we just let go (see <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S7817773">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S7817773</a> and <a href="http://aviantendencies.blogspot.com/2011/03/putative-rosss-goose.html">http://aviantendencies.blogspot.com/2011/03/putative-rosss-goose.html</a> ). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This bird was found by myself and Josh Haas this evening with a group of Canada Geese and 11 Greater White-fronteds (see <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13368926">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13368926</a> ) and unfortunately the light was getting dim and the bird was probably 1/4 mile out from our closest vantage, and it was windy. All of which made studying the details of critical facial morphology difficult. In life, it appeared to have a straight edge to the bill/facial interface, no grin patch, obvious blue coloration at bill base. The only thing that seemed at all of concern (and I am not sure that this is of concern) is that the angle of the straight bill base at times appeared to be slightly diagonal, with the top of the bill slightly posterior in position to the bottom of the bill. In other words, the facial/bill interface was slanted slightly inward toward the bird's body. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I would appreciate opinions on whether this bird is countable, and plan to try first thing in the morning again, as the bird seemed to go to roost at this location.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://youtu.be/WpRyf_-FI-Y">http://youtu.be/WpRyf_-FI-Y</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WpRyf_-FI-Y" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOED-4dTTRCxBPOuSquH9Ygvi6eCqnslUUQQvIdntFTVqzL9Mpyst_xpt5Y9s1Y4z6Pu7gE2VPDpU2Xh5p2QPUV_TD1NWBv0uN0Q5qEFQmUNeiDFrNajKr0IyV63ZzEXl9wCaBAufENmEB/s1600/rogo11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOED-4dTTRCxBPOuSquH9Ygvi6eCqnslUUQQvIdntFTVqzL9Mpyst_xpt5Y9s1Y4z6Pu7gE2VPDpU2Xh5p2QPUV_TD1NWBv0uN0Q5qEFQmUNeiDFrNajKr0IyV63ZzEXl9wCaBAufENmEB/s320/rogo11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheIdFDNBStvspwzBTBLCt8oYy1B95CtoUvs7xpkqxLHMvwvAh6KjV098y7BuP5uH0fmW1dTU5RKdE43AByGu8Gdqv-PiGW3qbe3EXjkDitdR6MSWs_JMoFnO0hEf1X9ZWfED3hAvOXuTm/s1600/rogo10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheIdFDNBStvspwzBTBLCt8oYy1B95CtoUvs7xpkqxLHMvwvAh6KjV098y7BuP5uH0fmW1dTU5RKdE43AByGu8Gdqv-PiGW3qbe3EXjkDitdR6MSWs_JMoFnO0hEf1X9ZWfED3hAvOXuTm/s320/rogo10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Lm8wlDJjVZlM6Pc29qQYcCDdVjIHklfhptaU2FSo23ERT9kaSFsmpMQD3rw-vUoVys2ZA3rrakMqnGIt1GV8y_vT4c3FBiLx2Xw3INMe-eGLoMHMgzTj4S7T9YbIBWzuA0JwZZAC1STm/s1600/rogo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Lm8wlDJjVZlM6Pc29qQYcCDdVjIHklfhptaU2FSo23ERT9kaSFsmpMQD3rw-vUoVys2ZA3rrakMqnGIt1GV8y_vT4c3FBiLx2Xw3INMe-eGLoMHMgzTj4S7T9YbIBWzuA0JwZZAC1STm/s320/rogo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxf-IH4XXELk-2ygU5zWKjRS_0HDFVlgGm3tparI47YIhAyPveWQ-w5Y7kYZ6NSlFSoISDv14hdX3EMgUzHfh0d-ZLegq7yj-VS-6mBDxE4Of3N5wm3647Of8q3LZUj7Qzr6y-bzPSQ3I/s1600/rogo12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxf-IH4XXELk-2ygU5zWKjRS_0HDFVlgGm3tparI47YIhAyPveWQ-w5Y7kYZ6NSlFSoISDv14hdX3EMgUzHfh0d-ZLegq7yj-VS-6mBDxE4Of3N5wm3647Of8q3LZUj7Qzr6y-bzPSQ3I/s320/rogo12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxLelYcjUQxYfteMUJ7TM4DZcciPoDbOmITzPLjOSsHTQaJY2ExixFA9OMOGGwg_p_l-a4kqMTKer7Hf2DFnTE8SMCFUMzxWn_98r2OSbm0ykd4Z0U0yW1NlnrCq5eXP1r9pcFnwV2WNX/s1600/rogo14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxLelYcjUQxYfteMUJ7TM4DZcciPoDbOmITzPLjOSsHTQaJY2ExixFA9OMOGGwg_p_l-a4kqMTKer7Hf2DFnTE8SMCFUMzxWn_98r2OSbm0ykd4Z0U0yW1NlnrCq5eXP1r9pcFnwV2WNX/s320/rogo14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0gnabLVDoc0N_pWZH-zZMB367biVjtpc6rMhtq36q7h2tc2_hJuYnKee-hincWH5rFg17gzMkkOORu9WS58h6BD3g2aLCv3RRn3u6vl5dEoH2yA7ZWdHcUzA7SyT52bMUeMBrwW1ANGU/s1600/rogo13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0gnabLVDoc0N_pWZH-zZMB367biVjtpc6rMhtq36q7h2tc2_hJuYnKee-hincWH5rFg17gzMkkOORu9WS58h6BD3g2aLCv3RRn3u6vl5dEoH2yA7ZWdHcUzA7SyT52bMUeMBrwW1ANGU/s320/rogo13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AIumRM3U2Pt-fHNwghv8Ts9BuD3sib5dy_whKCqio3EoEx_BNBWfHC_tzOuqsVv2mOYRntFSBSKgUNynr2yid8Wdqy9tgQKDH2BnMBWYdiAO1t2Qq2v38-5KPs36XSIflzCCgh3wz6LC/s1600/rogo16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AIumRM3U2Pt-fHNwghv8Ts9BuD3sib5dy_whKCqio3EoEx_BNBWfHC_tzOuqsVv2mOYRntFSBSKgUNynr2yid8Wdqy9tgQKDH2BnMBWYdiAO1t2Qq2v38-5KPs36XSIflzCCgh3wz6LC/s320/rogo16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFDhsBFY9I6Z2J2z9hxjrne0ka9yhXzmcfWRm4_Wt9oglmvUyiKtrgoqMeWgOOd9ydWv3ewLTYiMb_p0YcraS4niP3WrqxfUvDVLGdvJYba6gBFrB-rEgKHEXatQRsGw5vSjKkxF76lRR/s1600/rogo15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFDhsBFY9I6Z2J2z9hxjrne0ka9yhXzmcfWRm4_Wt9oglmvUyiKtrgoqMeWgOOd9ydWv3ewLTYiMb_p0YcraS4niP3WrqxfUvDVLGdvJYba6gBFrB-rEgKHEXatQRsGw5vSjKkxF76lRR/s320/rogo15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE1bQFQRk9FS8YFKhuza5bS7Qx1N_WbvQyY8Nt5OQs_7FJOdPNElIM9iKQAOs6dIwPOPi7nYC8li45XpwGDur_J3wYJ1zOJVNARiEsdCdasxXj3DtFrNSVefqYJUVmQmJuP0QwMge6Vni/s1600/rogo17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE1bQFQRk9FS8YFKhuza5bS7Qx1N_WbvQyY8Nt5OQs_7FJOdPNElIM9iKQAOs6dIwPOPi7nYC8li45XpwGDur_J3wYJ1zOJVNARiEsdCdasxXj3DtFrNSVefqYJUVmQmJuP0QwMge6Vni/s320/rogo17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinHb9t97nhOHkarhsmnVpPrTWamBIPkiOEsw0wq35TgprkxVUEAhACit8pdhgnajKwl8Hi1bKo6_jdaVV4z2JD1vn7UpURElTd70JUr7tBTY67b8ZDAXyr75oct7ZCVU3VlFOzkY_egmv/s1600/rogo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinHb9t97nhOHkarhsmnVpPrTWamBIPkiOEsw0wq35TgprkxVUEAhACit8pdhgnajKwl8Hi1bKo6_jdaVV4z2JD1vn7UpURElTd70JUr7tBTY67b8ZDAXyr75oct7ZCVU3VlFOzkY_egmv/s320/rogo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa6jy-UGVnPAvJGEkEk4YW2MVNvjKMhC22exaxth2R0a7IJUufr2eVuRXPqAHuVyVTgRlmrALBVCBaJ4ZoKv6BaKBBETjVOU91AhSm6uAMFhzvDDlpVfY3rDAZClU7MWlLqOiEc2sVKPn/s1600/rogo18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa6jy-UGVnPAvJGEkEk4YW2MVNvjKMhC22exaxth2R0a7IJUufr2eVuRXPqAHuVyVTgRlmrALBVCBaJ4ZoKv6BaKBBETjVOU91AhSm6uAMFhzvDDlpVfY3rDAZClU7MWlLqOiEc2sVKPn/s320/rogo18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FAYpMHD4HjKWZfsqvXkVOReqL8mdF2EYTyk-7DP0U1vnfdjCV3E0eV6Rh6szcYV1CX_aeoL_LBQUrv9Am4j2b5Aq1FH_7XifUbz46nW8s2dZpxySwmR3VnpQKv3DOVczPhrs9vPEy-8n/s1600/rogo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FAYpMHD4HjKWZfsqvXkVOReqL8mdF2EYTyk-7DP0U1vnfdjCV3E0eV6Rh6szcYV1CX_aeoL_LBQUrv9Am4j2b5Aq1FH_7XifUbz46nW8s2dZpxySwmR3VnpQKv3DOVczPhrs9vPEy-8n/s320/rogo3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmQKO9mPsIRYXC8RnU46RRinIA1MBRN_CuDjUPCZkws8xFYcWwy7HEVvdqPlmag84U7-EeTG8J3P9qHdH2h1-d7PGQmuevkJjlh5eXo2Lz8jWUu5cR4uYqYFZJq5MqPt67CxledRTTY-F/s1600/rogo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmQKO9mPsIRYXC8RnU46RRinIA1MBRN_CuDjUPCZkws8xFYcWwy7HEVvdqPlmag84U7-EeTG8J3P9qHdH2h1-d7PGQmuevkJjlh5eXo2Lz8jWUu5cR4uYqYFZJq5MqPt67CxledRTTY-F/s320/rogo4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7XrYRDPvtqDVqgrTV6cP6lng0E0qgSozcBBJvv7DX47wSXsUJ6c3_95i2RRgeoymTOoZs3n05F1_uJQe5zsswSCASpkYvQDibWZJShcGPLadhUpGGzhuRXDUmEhyvMK39FN0SIuV0Pvr/s1600/rogo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7XrYRDPvtqDVqgrTV6cP6lng0E0qgSozcBBJvv7DX47wSXsUJ6c3_95i2RRgeoymTOoZs3n05F1_uJQe5zsswSCASpkYvQDibWZJShcGPLadhUpGGzhuRXDUmEhyvMK39FN0SIuV0Pvr/s320/rogo5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6acWLn5KxTnOBcd7oI1Xvbas21lsOFzhhYRcB4CiLYeKPKpt4C3dF86O5kWe3IgcW8TF2U_8qPzYy8t047xkq9RhPsAelVTmcznxT-7N1JUFdA8BRIN5wI3RTRfQ9Qi-sE9pVys-hXyw/s1600/rogo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6acWLn5KxTnOBcd7oI1Xvbas21lsOFzhhYRcB4CiLYeKPKpt4C3dF86O5kWe3IgcW8TF2U_8qPzYy8t047xkq9RhPsAelVTmcznxT-7N1JUFdA8BRIN5wI3RTRfQ9Qi-sE9pVys-hXyw/s320/rogo6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsymtFfWvxHM7er9zLSjT7yDAEVAFXaKAQve8C1IRRS9Hna8JJ65_YbdJ8JFC_FsCI9Bo6-MnhUCnfm3OHzRD_qA2Zt0rA9UyyI3yOMFcKajT6x5_62JHDGDHb6rpW27a_movjd3Gqquqi/s1600/rogo7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsymtFfWvxHM7er9zLSjT7yDAEVAFXaKAQve8C1IRRS9Hna8JJ65_YbdJ8JFC_FsCI9Bo6-MnhUCnfm3OHzRD_qA2Zt0rA9UyyI3yOMFcKajT6x5_62JHDGDHb6rpW27a_movjd3Gqquqi/s320/rogo7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjTiNp_T8h27L7nzDdzyWyYVI5JNHuUnIRfL-qteh6WVVvf0G00aQWDDwehk765bv9LScPGxdDj8WazUfzzJu8zSYLRcC36_7CqnlqDhuy7MIztqGViOnpcG5F3-uMV3VFLLlrB9VR2nN/s1600/rogo9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjTiNp_T8h27L7nzDdzyWyYVI5JNHuUnIRfL-qteh6WVVvf0G00aQWDDwehk765bv9LScPGxdDj8WazUfzzJu8zSYLRcC36_7CqnlqDhuy7MIztqGViOnpcG5F3-uMV3VFLLlrB9VR2nN/s320/rogo9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl62Jb5ZJ-ndF1qzfFPdBXxQJS7dotKwamc-5oXxJx3aRIDNSK_j-2RPXMP8XUBEXS-161AWKkaQ9SAKeEk4DgNj7qDAsyrytXKhKgKJpUO3o_im4xvpB0GtcsBHs58Ynfe94H2HrAkPm/s1600/rogo8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl62Jb5ZJ-ndF1qzfFPdBXxQJS7dotKwamc-5oXxJx3aRIDNSK_j-2RPXMP8XUBEXS-161AWKkaQ9SAKeEk4DgNj7qDAsyrytXKhKgKJpUO3o_im4xvpB0GtcsBHs58Ynfe94H2HrAkPm/s320/rogo8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-20352096213676325952012-06-15T06:33:00.000-07:002012-06-15T06:48:01.972-07:00ID of the WhimbrelI received a message late last night asking if the bill length of yesterday's Whimbrel seen in this shot:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/7186856785/in/photostream">http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/7186856785/in/photostream</a>
<br />
<br />
wasn't in fact suggestive of Long-billed Curlew (LBCU). I wasn't sure what to make of this, as the bird repeatedly appeared to have strong lateral crown stripes and to lack buffy tones to the body (esp. the underparts) yesterday. However that suggestion gave me enough pause to put some more thought into the matter. An additional photograph that had me wondering was this one:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/7186856341/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/7186856341/in/photostream/</a>
<br />
<br />
which sure seems to show a thin bill tip (not the relatively thick bill I am used to on WHIM). But the issue was just how much uncertainty was injected into this entire discussion by the heat waves and extreme distance that the videos/photos were taken in. Heck, in the second photo above the bird appears to lack head stripes altogether! So, could any of these photographic artefacts be trusted?<br />
<br />
I returned early this morning, hoping to see the bird again. This time, I utilized my connections with the airport police to request permission to view from beside the terminal itself, which they obliged me on (thankfully). Also thankfully, the bird was still present, and the early morning coolness prevented heat wave distortion. The bird was much closer to me, and I finally saw it in flight, and the ID is confirmed as Whimbrel beyond any doubt. The bird completely lacks any buffy tones in the spread wings, and has pronounced lateral crown stripes, and just isn't large enough for Long-billed Curlew. These are the best two videos from this morning:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wgYFk8Bo0ds" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dnmjoS8JGEY" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
The bird should still be visible from the s. Kraft Ave overlook, however at 8:20AM this morning it flew NE out of sight, and may have returned to the 2nd location in yesterday's blog post. So patience may be required. I also would not recommend trying to view from the terminal without contacting airport police ahead of time- you would be getting a lot of unwanted attention from the many security personnel and suspicious passengers, etc.Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-65355978477258532972012-06-14T15:12:00.002-07:002012-06-14T15:22:40.422-07:00Kent Co. WhimbrelThis morning via eBird we learned of an exciting discovery within Kent County from yesterday: a rare inland Whimbrel seen by Gus van Vliet at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport at 9:45AM on June 13. This is not a species I expected to see in my lifetime in Kent County, as they just don't often stop inland, and even then it's almost always at mudflats and larger lakes with extensive beaches (which we don't have). So Randy Vandermolen and I immediately gave chase and were very lucky to relocate the bird (thanks to Gus's excellent notes within eBird) just south of the airport terminal shortly after 9AM. We were viewing it from the s. Kraft Ave. overlook north of 52nd St.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7_tJaRI83Tgxx6KTkCZjvmaue54e-iAvA5VgmUbRh1CnJKkm96s9LBkMPuu-3Dr2x0q4AMebWitS0V7Db5GB6k2dieT8Y-psqyogHUB-l4X4rjFd0tgFvChRh8wPvZq3rEDkJPUPACd9/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7_tJaRI83Tgxx6KTkCZjvmaue54e-iAvA5VgmUbRh1CnJKkm96s9LBkMPuu-3Dr2x0q4AMebWitS0V7Db5GB6k2dieT8Y-psqyogHUB-l4X4rjFd0tgFvChRh8wPvZq3rEDkJPUPACd9/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Around 11:25AM, however, the bird took flight (per Randy Vandermolen and Albert Rowell) and landed quite a ways to the NE, shown here by this marker. The bird definitely landed in the area, but was not visible once it put down according to Randy. Here is the approximate location it landed: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWGtFQeNyAlWDHWQx3IdZwrydFgCkWGzMzkQtV0vpzs1q-vOb6yhz8WehPvMr0T0V2LI2etgZyzDuAbJ1pbGKqW3yXurapwuXmkmy_E-iNpcWlpAs_VUtwAOa52z5VbzHFxu4YXAP1reS/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWGtFQeNyAlWDHWQx3IdZwrydFgCkWGzMzkQtV0vpzs1q-vOb6yhz8WehPvMr0T0V2LI2etgZyzDuAbJ1pbGKqW3yXurapwuXmkmy_E-iNpcWlpAs_VUtwAOa52z5VbzHFxu4YXAP1reS/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Randy said that there was some kind of green vehicle in the vicinity of where it landed, and that when viewing from the s. Kraft Ave. overlook, that the bird was immediately to the east of the several smaller outbuildings just east of the large terminal. In any event, patience may be required if you plan to search for this bird. In terms of where to search for the bird, I suspect the s. Kraft overlook (with scope) is still the best, however one could consider two other options in case the bird is in its northerly stakeout. First is the FedEx building entrance drive off of Thornapple River Dr SE. Park right at Thornapple River Dr and scope from this position looking west. The second position would be from the eastmost point of the Gateway Dr loop (ie. the loop one drives when driving through the airport terminal for arrivals and departures) looking east. Be forewarned, however, that although the airport police are aware of this bird and birders generally, that you will likely be stopped and asked to leave if you're there for more than a couple minutes. Here is a map with both of these optional viewing locations:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7HDyScSnoBjdZ6DcaLRoh6WTcoQwnU_n0Beo7MX3O5WA9N93h5Wyz4RPGqjecb6UB93Df1YXLH_poPTnLS-yTLgY0OaViWQo4lxaTR9Eqq_kaW60abduvuM-RE84S5t0hYeUurK-5Wus/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7HDyScSnoBjdZ6DcaLRoh6WTcoQwnU_n0Beo7MX3O5WA9N93h5Wyz4RPGqjecb6UB93Df1YXLH_poPTnLS-yTLgY0OaViWQo4lxaTR9Eqq_kaW60abduvuM-RE84S5t0hYeUurK-5Wus/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are my photos from earlier today:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VMUxGhbHMGw_T6L_jmlZVJs4-gZvMLIOomZllgVyTkZMy_OB0dyRJz4Sol8i8Z_QZbhjpB2kEttS_md3287finErUOXlIlteItubdOef-na2Jtj3Cu-2dtEes9TEzNHp1xbQJG-ff5FJ/s1600/IMG_4195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VMUxGhbHMGw_T6L_jmlZVJs4-gZvMLIOomZllgVyTkZMy_OB0dyRJz4Sol8i8Z_QZbhjpB2kEttS_md3287finErUOXlIlteItubdOef-na2Jtj3Cu-2dtEes9TEzNHp1xbQJG-ff5FJ/s320/IMG_4195.JPG" width="213" /></a>bird is just behind the fence in line with the "P" in airport</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-lSxwjld5AEjDhkEqyWrXEAZASP8UB6ZGadOSbwFQzOoNHai7RiBWRlplSGS7AjWDTTlN3tdtJmypX1i_XlF4aYOUHoqBj_izWccvHs3yLBKbVUtFFtt07csEEhuseDysRwEqp6fv3aM/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-lSxwjld5AEjDhkEqyWrXEAZASP8UB6ZGadOSbwFQzOoNHai7RiBWRlplSGS7AjWDTTlN3tdtJmypX1i_XlF4aYOUHoqBj_izWccvHs3yLBKbVUtFFtt07csEEhuseDysRwEqp6fv3aM/s320/IMG_4197.JPG" width="320" /></a>bird is on the tarmac front and left</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1PpRKX1pOKBhEzp4Lmq5LUGdQ8HYDZFpB7lIf43aoUpii2RHn4gPpyRj7oLoNIpBKMOOshT_IyO-tFPjhW85WlMo3aAxKyrIw2L23wxsHmlsfYaA0N5BentRxoNGz-1_6t6lVYe5nFie/s1600/whim1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1PpRKX1pOKBhEzp4Lmq5LUGdQ8HYDZFpB7lIf43aoUpii2RHn4gPpyRj7oLoNIpBKMOOshT_IyO-tFPjhW85WlMo3aAxKyrIw2L23wxsHmlsfYaA0N5BentRxoNGz-1_6t6lVYe5nFie/s320/whim1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KvFmE36DSW-aSakuDnRKSJY69m3NxHhMXB6abjUcthTGl4ka95gc3K5sPF1HbFiYdcMZt0KYq10y-LB1keZ4Bsiq7u_YcK5alD7uXG5zPxHNnhOQ2nS1AVgjx_2i2J8Eiopzzd4t07QT/s1600/whim2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KvFmE36DSW-aSakuDnRKSJY69m3NxHhMXB6abjUcthTGl4ka95gc3K5sPF1HbFiYdcMZt0KYq10y-LB1keZ4Bsiq7u_YcK5alD7uXG5zPxHNnhOQ2nS1AVgjx_2i2J8Eiopzzd4t07QT/s320/whim2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30wH3wp6Xb7Y4v4nVz4B88lxQiBApWMbJMaHeu3e3wgqaOdh6GjhVNqUpIOqC6ZvwyCIB-GJf1HD8zyXYt7l39KU7ACw3uOEjrLO_dkLo2kGWrzStjCiP-dDq90XgIpU_daukA_Xun3xl/s1600/whim3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30wH3wp6Xb7Y4v4nVz4B88lxQiBApWMbJMaHeu3e3wgqaOdh6GjhVNqUpIOqC6ZvwyCIB-GJf1HD8zyXYt7l39KU7ACw3uOEjrLO_dkLo2kGWrzStjCiP-dDq90XgIpU_daukA_Xun3xl/s320/whim3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pDljB7RrNY17s-Aj2OfDKTwk8fSlMb0sn1eBoyW1lZBoRmGxJ4q1rmQtbELewCVdHOvRK_Zd_uUo2ITkzPvh88_TZHARMIa4Rfw6MZJAdJbt9epoXQlxkPr5BWvMUXCATfo5Wk8zv3cC/s1600/whim4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pDljB7RrNY17s-Aj2OfDKTwk8fSlMb0sn1eBoyW1lZBoRmGxJ4q1rmQtbELewCVdHOvRK_Zd_uUo2ITkzPvh88_TZHARMIa4Rfw6MZJAdJbt9epoXQlxkPr5BWvMUXCATfo5Wk8zv3cC/s320/whim4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Good luck if you go!Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-42942992863284002172012-06-13T17:35:00.002-07:002012-06-13T17:35:53.540-07:00Snowy Plover- turning the pageThe past 2 months have been brutal. I have missed more rarities in a row than probably ever before. There was the lifer Ruff which had been seen all day but conveniently disappeared shortly before my arrival well before dusk (the only shorebird on the pond to do so), a county tick Black Tern which disappeared 20 minutes into my 30 minute drive (I have 100s of hours into this one), the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher which disappeared as I began driving to see it (despite 18 straight hours in one place), the Swainson's Hawk which was present at dusk with a strong north wind all night to hold it down (OK, this one was expected), and of course, the 'gimme' Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at the Detroit Zoo heron rookery which failed to show during my visit a while back. I have been frustrated. I have been discouraged.<br />
<br />
The silver lining in still being at 362 despite thinking I should have been in the upper 360s, is that none of these species are troublesome over the long term. Most will occur at least annually and it is but a matter of time until I nail them all down. So it was with some trepidation that I left this morning to try for the very rare Snowy Plover found yesterday at Ludington State Park by Chris Lipps and another (anonymous) technician of the MDNR. This, unlike the aforementioned species, is a very rare bird in these parts, the last MI record being from 1994, and one of only 2 for Michigan. Fortunately, the ID was clinched with photos from the beginning, so the only issue was whether or not it would stay the night. It did.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v_AGoFZqZYID-iuCutV-9ZZnvhOWcBoiJavFjXHBqRnbBiz2SkQHeS1XNLIqYVfaJP9xsFJfczgi0qfI3PYfvJ9_Qhb2PXOgINmMR3Wz_gosLmcNaBPJg50yGoHbmB03tKSbTP0I5RVh/s1600/SNPL1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v_AGoFZqZYID-iuCutV-9ZZnvhOWcBoiJavFjXHBqRnbBiz2SkQHeS1XNLIqYVfaJP9xsFJfczgi0qfI3PYfvJ9_Qhb2PXOgINmMR3Wz_gosLmcNaBPJg50yGoHbmB03tKSbTP0I5RVh/s320/SNPL1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The bird put on quite a show during my visit, repeatedly being oblivious to the close approach of beachcombers, and at one point walking to me for a very close encounter (side note: I did not move, I sat still from a distance of 150 ft., and the bird walked right down the beach in front of me). </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxqTCKDzXH3TwQabyNoEls3vWMtkkqkiKAmBTDZKh8ix4FZSSRJ4sJDk8Hzl7XScWnbe4HHuSjJDcERKhVbjVrCeeCAIsaaV0RxEtMYckpg4wcIYgiZpQmhUAN2viPf77FQaE6MzVdqKg/s1600/Document+Nam2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxqTCKDzXH3TwQabyNoEls3vWMtkkqkiKAmBTDZKh8ix4FZSSRJ4sJDk8Hzl7XScWnbe4HHuSjJDcERKhVbjVrCeeCAIsaaV0RxEtMYckpg4wcIYgiZpQmhUAN2viPf77FQaE6MzVdqKg/s320/Document+Nam2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The bird is heavily abraded on its upperparts and wings, and on its primaries as well. These are good signs that the bird is a youngster, hatched last year (ie. a second calendar year). The upperparts have but a few darker brown, fresher, feathers amongst the sea of very pale brown, old, ones. I believe this means the bird had a very limited prealternate molt but have yet to do a literature check.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rL9l_yaWZUxBEctNw451auSrOJTmhzOflw8rDvrCkjG3RaoEqKVZ5Q6W9PBmsL4-j4mBLOTfIn7qmP9QdrFg80LyZdELJNRDDEa09oFLLARGitcFhNOv0S_FMiKWXXe6r0mJjCQMSKN8/s1600/Document+Nam4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rL9l_yaWZUxBEctNw451auSrOJTmhzOflw8rDvrCkjG3RaoEqKVZ5Q6W9PBmsL4-j4mBLOTfIn7qmP9QdrFg80LyZdELJNRDDEa09oFLLARGitcFhNOv0S_FMiKWXXe6r0mJjCQMSKN8/s320/Document+Nam4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /> Interestingly, the distribution of the dark brown scapulars and mantle feathers (and of the crown feathers) is suspiciously similar to that of the second calendar year Snowy Plover seen at Conneaut, OH and Presque Isle Park, PA about a week ago. See these photos of that individual which has been missing for around a week. <span id="goog_1064772965"></span><span id="goog_1064772966"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://northnw.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/snowy-plover/">http://northnw.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/snowy-plover/</a>
<br />
<br />
Comments on the similarity (or lack thereof) of the MI and OH birds would be appreciated, as would links to additional photos of either.<br />
<br />
Here are the remainder of my best photos:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftPWsyxqzptw4Yu14BDbhRMwH9QNE_Tzgfs3msXCc2Crku9CjR1R1uqZkssOPY5nH3JYX4KU5kK3BBWKCBNgUBWqLuxfpWYCOyy56XqcCsZyb1TqTWOZiKMGc2v0ohifq-hiLDJHYSkmj/s1600/SNPL3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftPWsyxqzptw4Yu14BDbhRMwH9QNE_Tzgfs3msXCc2Crku9CjR1R1uqZkssOPY5nH3JYX4KU5kK3BBWKCBNgUBWqLuxfpWYCOyy56XqcCsZyb1TqTWOZiKMGc2v0ohifq-hiLDJHYSkmj/s320/SNPL3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fiz4i5psUvpr7Geswdhuk-H3-N5ObJu9IWi3aio7be5-kq-XniJ8CNRog9F_p-hVY87va2j79WINaeKbSdEd-QWNTJGdV4gVSiYEfaW5gi6wvpYrCk-Rt7zkKGpI08Qy-yHZwJoIe__H/s1600/SNPL5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fiz4i5psUvpr7Geswdhuk-H3-N5ObJu9IWi3aio7be5-kq-XniJ8CNRog9F_p-hVY87va2j79WINaeKbSdEd-QWNTJGdV4gVSiYEfaW5gi6wvpYrCk-Rt7zkKGpI08Qy-yHZwJoIe__H/s320/SNPL5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJLs06JFVVpGybY-lka_uRrZfdt8zA5pEFO8Ao4UvI649W48fK2lPLMx1HZLTKi3iWOFFkINnqkLaV0OC_gBkbzNmV18joUh9NILB119Fo9iEf1DuJjkQY-wJjocfiICCLMVEpzFMPasu/s1600/SNPL6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJLs06JFVVpGybY-lka_uRrZfdt8zA5pEFO8Ao4UvI649W48fK2lPLMx1HZLTKi3iWOFFkINnqkLaV0OC_gBkbzNmV18joUh9NILB119Fo9iEf1DuJjkQY-wJjocfiICCLMVEpzFMPasu/s320/SNPL6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0CbNDPYab1WCX2KcBcwLVziPbHKiDLMF43hyphenhypheneaSW6GToVqHZYBPXke_z8LtbQrt3jEQuQsd6Bi3ajjOyuPoM7crUOQkcnfbDWlGkRR6syQNq03-9pIcni9-4r0yqW0Bk5pwfPrnI-UVs/s1600/SNPL7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0CbNDPYab1WCX2KcBcwLVziPbHKiDLMF43hyphenhypheneaSW6GToVqHZYBPXke_z8LtbQrt3jEQuQsd6Bi3ajjOyuPoM7crUOQkcnfbDWlGkRR6syQNq03-9pIcni9-4r0yqW0Bk5pwfPrnI-UVs/s320/SNPL7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxu1CRdD5lyukcvwqyBUkZgOQAiu1iFx7tfsPn8UYxoyGo_7QPWVYaqNB_bTuVh02EtrSRGBpvdBAt2pAAf2UCDcxFq11YoL5ce396tBOFEt-aTWRrYlaEg_cZ_o5vY4iyexIPJOwsFW4u/s1600/SNPL8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxu1CRdD5lyukcvwqyBUkZgOQAiu1iFx7tfsPn8UYxoyGo_7QPWVYaqNB_bTuVh02EtrSRGBpvdBAt2pAAf2UCDcxFq11YoL5ce396tBOFEt-aTWRrYlaEg_cZ_o5vY4iyexIPJOwsFW4u/s320/SNPL8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ONSj7F_JL18" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is a much anticipated potential 3rd state record if accepted by MBRC. It was seen into the evening at the same site by many others as well.</div>
<br />Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-76840187722680980042012-06-12T18:07:00.001-07:002012-06-12T18:07:42.009-07:00Snowy Plover at Ludington State Park (per Chris Lipps), June 12<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This evening I received a phone message then these photographs of a Snowy Plover taken at Ludington State Park by Chris Lipps this morning, June 12, 2012, around 9-10AM. All of these photos are copyrighted to Christopher Lipps.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3qee630G3RDvS5-NU5rntfek0i3YU4lYP7ttBw6k8QJ5c1mqTnLGhN2PGV0byG_7gVH98_Dlw6YuG1zfHv0CIV4jCMS8co7Bh9ROd8gO7LcY_GInPxtfuqz2Ff5g6uKDf_EstGp3sSFX/s1600/DSCF5353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3qee630G3RDvS5-NU5rntfek0i3YU4lYP7ttBw6k8QJ5c1mqTnLGhN2PGV0byG_7gVH98_Dlw6YuG1zfHv0CIV4jCMS8co7Bh9ROd8gO7LcY_GInPxtfuqz2Ff5g6uKDf_EstGp3sSFX/s320/DSCF5353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TWAhDH8WhLNPSLqX__VLgKs2U_kKxfsV1PUo5RQvWUQI0MxF_tCR6-Z4X8PfMCZcTBS024Acz4JZD8tGDzkigqSB2TWpoHQgeh1PjvKHFgpO1NMmkJdm1I3mFmYq_wRvpGQzHtIGXKcg/s1600/DSCF5383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TWAhDH8WhLNPSLqX__VLgKs2U_kKxfsV1PUo5RQvWUQI0MxF_tCR6-Z4X8PfMCZcTBS024Acz4JZD8tGDzkigqSB2TWpoHQgeh1PjvKHFgpO1NMmkJdm1I3mFmYq_wRvpGQzHtIGXKcg/s320/DSCF5383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkz8ucAka9fj9CNW87BKEAjk6UPHU54Mr4TNIHBXshDP5PJ-bUK7H4u8cTVGuoQgZgMKIkmiRzeRrC3KmAX2m43JLxIpbBNvnGvkcl708l-1rWuD-lZbPPukU18AeaCH5gFBtD_7cPx5Ap/s1600/DSCF5474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkz8ucAka9fj9CNW87BKEAjk6UPHU54Mr4TNIHBXshDP5PJ-bUK7H4u8cTVGuoQgZgMKIkmiRzeRrC3KmAX2m43JLxIpbBNvnGvkcl708l-1rWuD-lZbPPukU18AeaCH5gFBtD_7cPx5Ap/s320/DSCF5474.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6F8RSrzz4mt9gykpYWzVi6RlMVD2h_0gKbY5L9XFJX_ik3nqy8fSycXk_By7MRXuDmY0RbkumVyLGx3If0-ypGBwREaOFVuyeOMu10ujLPfqjvD2EnRlo5DHyxQaFCv9yWkmf-24fuBm/s1600/DSCF5451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6F8RSrzz4mt9gykpYWzVi6RlMVD2h_0gKbY5L9XFJX_ik3nqy8fSycXk_By7MRXuDmY0RbkumVyLGx3If0-ypGBwREaOFVuyeOMu10ujLPfqjvD2EnRlo5DHyxQaFCv9yWkmf-24fuBm/s320/DSCF5451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The bird was immediately south of the Big Sable River mouth, here: <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">44.029698,-86.507088</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenS_rmhI8uijh1rh-7b-RgkCpbMQNWOWh8ujnZsAlzC8nZY1V5pNlY5mwtSYMLoZkzs5Yu5hokqwOGYJdrpVfnDYVM130ot8xFmA_vyMNjnZTzRwHuKzQ5QPuxe31jyxUcPdrx5uI4CtL/s1600/snpl+location.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenS_rmhI8uijh1rh-7b-RgkCpbMQNWOWh8ujnZsAlzC8nZY1V5pNlY5mwtSYMLoZkzs5Yu5hokqwOGYJdrpVfnDYVM130ot8xFmA_vyMNjnZTzRwHuKzQ5QPuxe31jyxUcPdrx5uI4CtL/s320/snpl+location.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dave Dister reported to me this evening that he had the bird about 300 yards south of the rivermouth as of 7-7:10PM tonight.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Good luck if you chase this potential 3rd state record!</div>
<br />
<br />Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-24594195535633333212012-04-10T07:44:00.008-07:002012-04-10T08:32:35.405-07:00Harris's Sparrow in Muskegon CountyWithout a doubt my worst nemesis state bird for many years now has been Harris's Sparrow. I have chased it several times and missed it by minutes, or found out others had it before I arrived and after I left. Thankfully, that distinction is now a thing of the past.<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span>On March 10, 2012 I saw this posting on the Muskegon County Nature Club blog:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><a href="http://muskegonbirdblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/harriss-sparrow-friday-at-sga.html">http://muskegonbirdblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/harriss-sparrow-friday-at-sga.html</a> </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span>I was unable to chase that bird at that time and never heard any followup from anyone, and not chasing was obviously a mistake on my part. But the bird seems to have stuck around, and this</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> morning I saw this eBird checklist from yesterday which was the first information I have heard of this </span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: 'times new roman'; ">bird since March 10:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10400097">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10400097</a> </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span>Needless to say I rushed to the scene and was lucky to get information from Jonathan Lautenbach that the bird was being seen near the tire pile at the Headquarters building. I had been checking Dave Elbrecht's location up to that point, without luck (or any sparrow flocks). After some looking Jonathan and I both scored our state tick. Here is the map of these locations:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnwMLYvPoiR2SZW_pFbVIadpYNeTuLNsELRaaivowZdtSp0u6Jx18T_pA0_36SLyUwKHemrDy2rGLzh5CNZZZ15mi707qB_CSPR9lDkIEURQPJRJFNpQvE2p831AWw-7aTvxuVTbmUg3k/s1600/MSGA+HASP+map.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnwMLYvPoiR2SZW_pFbVIadpYNeTuLNsELRaaivowZdtSp0u6Jx18T_pA0_36SLyUwKHemrDy2rGLzh5CNZZZ15mi707qB_CSPR9lDkIEURQPJRJFNpQvE2p831AWw-7aTvxuVTbmUg3k/s400/MSGA+HASP+map.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729791885943466946" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; ">I am not sure why this bird wasn't posted more publicly. It is certainly rare enough to merit post<span>ing on Mich-Listers (<a href="http://www.jlesser.com/mich-listers.htm">which requires</a> simply that a bird be a "<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: -webkit-auto; ">County rarity", among other things, to be permissible). In any event, I am very glad we didn't miss it before it migrates back to northern Canada! State bird 362 and my worst Michigan nemesis averted...</span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Here are my pictures and ebird checklist:</span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: -webkit-auto; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/7064533689/" title="Harris's Sparrow, Muskegon SGA Headquarters, April 10 2012 by larus10, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7064533689_4ea69cb21f.jpg" width="500" height="394" alt="Harris's Sparrow, Muskegon SGA Headquarters, April 10 2012" /></a></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/7064533695/" title="Harris's Sparrow, Muskegon SGA Headquarters, April 10 2012 by larus10, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5319/7064533695_0a2bce8f50.jpg" width="500" height="444" alt="Harris's Sparrow, Muskegon SGA Headquarters, April 10 2012" /></a></span></div><div><span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10405968">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10405968</a> </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Good luck if you chase it!</span></div></span></div>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-86350451317383434062012-03-11T20:08:00.012-07:002012-03-12T06:40:39.656-07:00possible dark morph Ross's Goose- an ID quandary<span><span>This post is going to be shorter and less extensive than a full analysis, mainly because I do not have the necessary days to do the research. But I think the topic is important enough to attempt to make some progress in lieu of a deeper literature and internet photo review.</span></span><div><br /></div><div>The basics: the very rare 'blue morph' Ross's Goose (ROGO) is, for me, a very mysterious critter. I have never seen one in life (maybe 2 total so far) that I was sure wasn't a hybrid or backcross ROGO X Snow Goose (SNGO), and I have never felt that I had a firm grasp on even the bird's very existence. Many of the putative photos I have seen from other states appeared to be phenotypically intermediate, and there is a suggestion that no 'pure' blue morph Ross's Goose exists at all. The Crossley Guide says "blue morph [ROGO] is extremely rare and perhaps a hybrid with SNGO where the blue-morph gene is dominant." National Geographic says "the origin of this blue morph is controversial and is though to be due either to introgression with blue [SNGO] or a recurrent mutation of genes controlling feather color." The source of such sentiments seems to be a handful of papers referenced in the Pyle Guide II. [Pyle, incidentally says "Dark-morph Ross's Geese are very rare and may represent hybrids or back-crosses with dark-morph Snow Geese..."]. Here is one of the citations given in support of this statement:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v096n03/p0544-p0550.pdf">http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v096n03/p0544-p0550.pdf</a></div><div><br /></div><div>and the other 3 (which I cannot currently locate online) are:</div><div><br /></div><div>Williamson, M.H. 1957. Ploymorphism in Ross's Geese (Anser rossii) and the detection of genetic dominance from field data. Ibis 99:516-518.</div><div><br /></div><div>F. Cooke and J.P. Rider. 1979. The genetics of polymorphism in the Ross's Goose. Evolution 25:483-490.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kaufman, K., J. Witzeman, and E. Cook. 1979. Pinning down the blue Ross' Goose. Continental Birdlife 1:112-115.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am not going to go any further into the content of these papers (much of it is well beyond my expertise), other than to say that this apparently well-supported hypothesis (that blue morph Ross's may not exist, since the dominant allele coding for blue morph is strictly a SNGO allele; and that correspondingly any blue morph goose must have some SNGO in its recent ancestry) has long given me pause at accepting any claim of this bird. So it was with extreme interest that I heard of an apparently good candidate in SW lower Michigan (!) Friday evening. I was able to visit the site on March 10 and to obtain fairly close up digiscoped video of the bird while studying it for 1 hour in the late morning. The footage was taken using a Nikon Coolpix p5100 through my Kowa Prominar 884, with Kowa digiscoping adapter and window mount. I did not attempt any still shots. Here are the raw videos (be sure to select 480p quality when viewing):</div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nik-zbxqUek">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nik-zbxqUek</a></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTtZHgZbCsk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTtZHgZbCsk</a></div><div>and here are the best screen captures (please see my discussion of this bird's identity at the bottom of this post):</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWb6At0myQ6ZeIgqDFu3s_nXa0Mf0jtnDGfiVnqpSfV7-MnNBBhW_-Wra_3FVSc-xchw4i-ooLMr1HSPXEF2RKboLIl22WE5EFemgLzLaxBSWtj5APxNThLUHIjzpAfMUturvMFxAQXKj/s1600/rogo1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWb6At0myQ6ZeIgqDFu3s_nXa0Mf0jtnDGfiVnqpSfV7-MnNBBhW_-Wra_3FVSc-xchw4i-ooLMr1HSPXEF2RKboLIl22WE5EFemgLzLaxBSWtj5APxNThLUHIjzpAfMUturvMFxAQXKj/s400/rogo1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849930664616274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOObe-ufvhtwhumduFyE6zY1nrBwTwPZI7H-cBI4AgEYCJwLvHsDoYMCzNjv1TL_Y0j8dGmdUTfJ65Hus7YSZDW878AyRYX_ll_-wNGRuFKZ3TpHuDygTuGacqTohXopdwE3dU_-dLwkN/s1600/rogo2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOObe-ufvhtwhumduFyE6zY1nrBwTwPZI7H-cBI4AgEYCJwLvHsDoYMCzNjv1TL_Y0j8dGmdUTfJ65Hus7YSZDW878AyRYX_ll_-wNGRuFKZ3TpHuDygTuGacqTohXopdwE3dU_-dLwkN/s400/rogo2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849928570024882" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6vnjVnXt54tIxsPgLOUJ3Byz8mVRByKdqdJJGuFDD1k7IjinIQMc48j6XJmZmakON6CQY3vRaf75GY6GHv4xp4o-3JsbhresWNZbTuKmKaRELhaJ8z-IWMsC0hFyIw1ZhiZMwn4zOdzr/s1600/rogo3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6vnjVnXt54tIxsPgLOUJ3Byz8mVRByKdqdJJGuFDD1k7IjinIQMc48j6XJmZmakON6CQY3vRaf75GY6GHv4xp4o-3JsbhresWNZbTuKmKaRELhaJ8z-IWMsC0hFyIw1ZhiZMwn4zOdzr/s400/rogo3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849925129507746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8Cea52cqz3klqPWfNUWVisAoXMDzRg36CcFQkv9NpSGac5J0ZYWTH_z-9vtu9Pn0LPhS9fRIPoYPyPWq21VU-Es4DReJtqVUO8jlEKSChzkt5mKIHDJEtOVou-XNY0St00h4DRWXnZBK/s1600/rogo4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8Cea52cqz3klqPWfNUWVisAoXMDzRg36CcFQkv9NpSGac5J0ZYWTH_z-9vtu9Pn0LPhS9fRIPoYPyPWq21VU-Es4DReJtqVUO8jlEKSChzkt5mKIHDJEtOVou-XNY0St00h4DRWXnZBK/s400/rogo4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849922316057490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MM6FjIYxhMRTztE_mOp5-LJPwaH_Hv1Xpy4bnO95IciN1nWpQFrCKs1M2J35lw4UR3kcW4-hCdIQGOFcL67f3tndim70TRSrj7i5xYbDLDmmmNCKRSzu01O1gUT3x5nbxnLwif9LpyDa/s1600/rogo5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MM6FjIYxhMRTztE_mOp5-LJPwaH_Hv1Xpy4bnO95IciN1nWpQFrCKs1M2J35lw4UR3kcW4-hCdIQGOFcL67f3tndim70TRSrj7i5xYbDLDmmmNCKRSzu01O1gUT3x5nbxnLwif9LpyDa/s400/rogo5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849919097306274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHchfdk36K6vilwIZ2jLvUDI-Z4PyULUuqD2SksUeOGbgK6Oqk6nH1gx4cEHW4Mo2M2KiOlDmNeTCyj3dDmxqOU-jDPbvABSEfqQgATgw5FWuzE1KWoFXJfjmVUshUuyy7Ub9nFa8W8Ao/s1600/rogo6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHchfdk36K6vilwIZ2jLvUDI-Z4PyULUuqD2SksUeOGbgK6Oqk6nH1gx4cEHW4Mo2M2KiOlDmNeTCyj3dDmxqOU-jDPbvABSEfqQgATgw5FWuzE1KWoFXJfjmVUshUuyy7Ub9nFa8W8Ao/s400/rogo6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849812881981314" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE1IzySWf0O0LPDXxaHiA61E6Iv9_MSxTL_i_rBnu95UKI_jXV1VYjSgXQK-I6k3DsJqluwIVfXp3WzfpJrSFBWdDWowrzJ7wmgmnnIrktxfiyzYugNn3ugiRKXlHfVSsSAljcRMx7ZUx/s1600/rogo7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE1IzySWf0O0LPDXxaHiA61E6Iv9_MSxTL_i_rBnu95UKI_jXV1VYjSgXQK-I6k3DsJqluwIVfXp3WzfpJrSFBWdDWowrzJ7wmgmnnIrktxfiyzYugNn3ugiRKXlHfVSsSAljcRMx7ZUx/s400/rogo7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849805525642930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMpNy9BZeIW2t3u3eCUawrGC406BqSBGdaRxH6lVhaCBVOoPnkojmEUa06_SQeKTuiExkLHJXk7udDZa5dIXgS5hglJNarSL4Mj4BUfKuen-NB_aWRFyJeFLkNqofjSaUW-XhBe_iX8AT/s1600/rogo8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMpNy9BZeIW2t3u3eCUawrGC406BqSBGdaRxH6lVhaCBVOoPnkojmEUa06_SQeKTuiExkLHJXk7udDZa5dIXgS5hglJNarSL4Mj4BUfKuen-NB_aWRFyJeFLkNqofjSaUW-XhBe_iX8AT/s400/rogo8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849808810723906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lP1C8gT5k2dTSDzPcbMAQlngfOInHxAhhedNcutvcI_vbIpS1vlsO6JEYwdfuyZbJvTS6nJYNGRPgIL1NJn9k7el853lup-hPrb8q-u-fFGqIW2GLY18WtnShuAnR-rmkxoFYY4nZqrZ/s1600/rogo9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lP1C8gT5k2dTSDzPcbMAQlngfOInHxAhhedNcutvcI_vbIpS1vlsO6JEYwdfuyZbJvTS6nJYNGRPgIL1NJn9k7el853lup-hPrb8q-u-fFGqIW2GLY18WtnShuAnR-rmkxoFYY4nZqrZ/s400/rogo9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849803768041378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtugRPa7lZWDo3QdZc6nq20zR05lVAz4XQ0rHCotQ-Q1V6lB-JaG4OT1gtfX16Z6vMka3Q0FGaa6PioleL2-bsEV_5qgA6A491IukzkE2DTYrMJ2e8YZ9DhqVS9jV0lzpEsH4f0eH_i9lT/s1600/rogo10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtugRPa7lZWDo3QdZc6nq20zR05lVAz4XQ0rHCotQ-Q1V6lB-JaG4OT1gtfX16Z6vMka3Q0FGaa6PioleL2-bsEV_5qgA6A491IukzkE2DTYrMJ2e8YZ9DhqVS9jV0lzpEsH4f0eH_i9lT/s400/rogo10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849799214806130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUygSkXX_wIxNpNDPzOOwyTX5UCb9R9xjvAQBxJAitWhv8WaUSk1pwGhHmdOOntbUGW2L_8UW3ML8fi3G3kx4cxoAYqiLg3xNStAWpMGGfqfHlkQMRxqZQa6J4BOuKS7FSk26_NPjTYwMA/s1600/rogocrown.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUygSkXX_wIxNpNDPzOOwyTX5UCb9R9xjvAQBxJAitWhv8WaUSk1pwGhHmdOOntbUGW2L_8UW3ML8fi3G3kx4cxoAYqiLg3xNStAWpMGGfqfHlkQMRxqZQa6J4BOuKS7FSk26_NPjTYwMA/s400/rogocrown.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849513740992514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmL7-UhieChBaqfk_9rjXzWJ1Lfd_K9MWYbGX7yKKSzyj8n4gQpSvZ1Ym4R8-FuEGLBLbzjNLybechbnqEF-0-JaxxYUIYmjCEijy0Kkd2HIglArJF0rFVzfRqzMXD5YgvA5RXuOTYrqM/s1600/rogo11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmL7-UhieChBaqfk_9rjXzWJ1Lfd_K9MWYbGX7yKKSzyj8n4gQpSvZ1Ym4R8-FuEGLBLbzjNLybechbnqEF-0-JaxxYUIYmjCEijy0Kkd2HIglArJF0rFVzfRqzMXD5YgvA5RXuOTYrqM/s400/rogo11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849509582482306" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NxnMHSV3F-Ig0ojdpBUbOp7QgvFwvfZX_n7PAhfckIzC7kWhT0DVcoVyRH6xdNHAY4wvd0iksTcVtAw6siH9DiVyvPHtJ3bBhNqG661_lmfmcW47PaA5bETVehqJfLVFvT9_JPplDaXP/s1600/rogo12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NxnMHSV3F-Ig0ojdpBUbOp7QgvFwvfZX_n7PAhfckIzC7kWhT0DVcoVyRH6xdNHAY4wvd0iksTcVtAw6siH9DiVyvPHtJ3bBhNqG661_lmfmcW47PaA5bETVehqJfLVFvT9_JPplDaXP/s400/rogo12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849508579601138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4SS6wtW9C8XKZNj9jK08RxQHL3V24wm9GFuWYIGVZMnCxfAF4-v6AnTRQU6yL8zf66P7aqfHKGkzTylxgIplSJcaMWTU7V6A0vu-Z_Jm9BvF5oiVWrtZGDALbsi2h3XROBlk_i10Pcyd/s1600/rogo13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4SS6wtW9C8XKZNj9jK08RxQHL3V24wm9GFuWYIGVZMnCxfAF4-v6AnTRQU6yL8zf66P7aqfHKGkzTylxgIplSJcaMWTU7V6A0vu-Z_Jm9BvF5oiVWrtZGDALbsi2h3XROBlk_i10Pcyd/s400/rogo13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849507796827106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3mU0MAxCjE5vgM7nKE-tF0GSf7J4WhU2moBtFyRFuISd2tt_F0WwgYtuINlr-FAdSFvKU2F0SzQRGj9T-szOW4oaNqSN_ZkrK4TuyGYY7soL37KNqn4gy69BFdcqyiCRmtrqwLkSHJWy/s1600/rogo14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3mU0MAxCjE5vgM7nKE-tF0GSf7J4WhU2moBtFyRFuISd2tt_F0WwgYtuINlr-FAdSFvKU2F0SzQRGj9T-szOW4oaNqSN_ZkrK4TuyGYY7soL37KNqn4gy69BFdcqyiCRmtrqwLkSHJWy/s400/rogo14.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849503418022050" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpujca0wzR3hVRWsRAFJDYYCC3-3dPm8yCLMDlNfyln4zzS9ie0nM88UYQV-U5Lyq5z9g-xhjPXiDFEqpJAvXWitTEKozEF-LbQJ7BzYotpJlqjBBhvtzrG0rstIerDpWPi1IG9ZJ4-4a/s1600/rogo15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpujca0wzR3hVRWsRAFJDYYCC3-3dPm8yCLMDlNfyln4zzS9ie0nM88UYQV-U5Lyq5z9g-xhjPXiDFEqpJAvXWitTEKozEF-LbQJ7BzYotpJlqjBBhvtzrG0rstIerDpWPi1IG9ZJ4-4a/s400/rogo15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849363068147378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb77DI4E0MqWI8j7KR1c-Z0QfwFDzJb-Fj-auK_5HcPlq0E0MnKBftbBIU_RQS4rndahod1M0fxf-53p5EBd5xKzw7n76ajvHnBbbApP-8eaN-7C8JQANC3vfLGkoMaes_qYWYocjExRNJ/s1600/rogo16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb77DI4E0MqWI8j7KR1c-Z0QfwFDzJb-Fj-auK_5HcPlq0E0MnKBftbBIU_RQS4rndahod1M0fxf-53p5EBd5xKzw7n76ajvHnBbbApP-8eaN-7C8JQANC3vfLGkoMaes_qYWYocjExRNJ/s400/rogo16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849364593845362" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhF-yTWqPQSID5Sk6MmMp-PpWO0N07j49Hekz0x2u4Vz66rYd_n4Rq9Mp2-jkSanLGeSTaa8Uy8QNUauBkQ0ZhVSQvDRiHLeEvc_TEa_shNkusaEWqUWhO6h_RzkuJwW8pCpCnrB0cje7/s1600/rogo17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhF-yTWqPQSID5Sk6MmMp-PpWO0N07j49Hekz0x2u4Vz66rYd_n4Rq9Mp2-jkSanLGeSTaa8Uy8QNUauBkQ0ZhVSQvDRiHLeEvc_TEa_shNkusaEWqUWhO6h_RzkuJwW8pCpCnrB0cje7/s400/rogo17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849360319798674" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0FMJX1frGnSdwpWfd469V8ADVcR5dAqtHQvUeLpeET4WXVHYupRG0kEZ7q9ZyJeQlCqBhd6PdNgym_BzPPsWGb3isKZeK_XxBr8Plh-T9mUcrcumrEcR-MKm1tXpdeHqiUvMn9bDGjS7/s1600/rogo18.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0FMJX1frGnSdwpWfd469V8ADVcR5dAqtHQvUeLpeET4WXVHYupRG0kEZ7q9ZyJeQlCqBhd6PdNgym_BzPPsWGb3isKZeK_XxBr8Plh-T9mUcrcumrEcR-MKm1tXpdeHqiUvMn9bDGjS7/s400/rogo18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849349979435474" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0f-iejDX9Ul3QiyZeBvaWAVxi5wXNsGB1OycRSQqcx-6xF6dsDBTBdtlj4O20EiBA2d03_vVMfyDoVbckD2cnTg2TkFnVK3WCHjjPqX2qm88wF54Ln4uuHkKoHuBpIGIbihGB5EHvXtX/s1600/rogo19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0f-iejDX9Ul3QiyZeBvaWAVxi5wXNsGB1OycRSQqcx-6xF6dsDBTBdtlj4O20EiBA2d03_vVMfyDoVbckD2cnTg2TkFnVK3WCHjjPqX2qm88wF54Ln4uuHkKoHuBpIGIbihGB5EHvXtX/s400/rogo19.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849352712505410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Z2BRUW27FXiJhSOiyl8Z6N4da_hriiCGp0oz-RedOgp1jTqSenlEyEOqul_K8CXh88nKZykCnvJbUL2I9jf3dQpM28R6wMU5Nv_sN3Mc3pa02YHFugXwXCRhNG7y95q5jUM6lSXyFNFJ/s1600/rogo20.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Z2BRUW27FXiJhSOiyl8Z6N4da_hriiCGp0oz-RedOgp1jTqSenlEyEOqul_K8CXh88nKZykCnvJbUL2I9jf3dQpM28R6wMU5Nv_sN3Mc3pa02YHFugXwXCRhNG7y95q5jUM6lSXyFNFJ/s400/rogo20.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718848564451069058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HSQU1Hr_nrjkZ8qf_EdHyWy9Z4Y8n8i7ORg5-Wnwc8MyifjggMscB1cZ5k348rshaqJQSGveDhYy14umGRlLavB4P22nc21KABpMPi8otaRFeKM6VHlHeBoYyiX05jc8btgNxxL-GmRM/s1600/rogo21.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HSQU1Hr_nrjkZ8qf_EdHyWy9Z4Y8n8i7ORg5-Wnwc8MyifjggMscB1cZ5k348rshaqJQSGveDhYy14umGRlLavB4P22nc21KABpMPi8otaRFeKM6VHlHeBoYyiX05jc8btgNxxL-GmRM/s400/rogo21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718848561512579090" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2h4hYYr3x2IxaAntL62VFDQOiqPrF0Zm5HUfPy9-RX9h03mfK5_NIHNYutIg2CjapVm5fLeT8NURsS_-qqv77mMS_6eFYmtjfMlggakshM_6orz0FG3JkteoYmiDsU_z94XOr8NqRQWk/s1600/rogo22.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2h4hYYr3x2IxaAntL62VFDQOiqPrF0Zm5HUfPy9-RX9h03mfK5_NIHNYutIg2CjapVm5fLeT8NURsS_-qqv77mMS_6eFYmtjfMlggakshM_6orz0FG3JkteoYmiDsU_z94XOr8NqRQWk/s400/rogo22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718848556619220466" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxycX2y-fL6zfgia880WmlHDIlpTS6jJ0vr2yiZtnJenzw_oSybsV6XZ_YDEWNdSO78wOOoAkfPj0K3otsjDSNgJ6Pw7hEeQxKLLPyh8fqg1AY2ZS-JvQttcwGpLexepO35vy_PrLn5_o-/s1600/rogo23.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxycX2y-fL6zfgia880WmlHDIlpTS6jJ0vr2yiZtnJenzw_oSybsV6XZ_YDEWNdSO78wOOoAkfPj0K3otsjDSNgJ6Pw7hEeQxKLLPyh8fqg1AY2ZS-JvQttcwGpLexepO35vy_PrLn5_o-/s400/rogo23.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718848556294270418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8cJBMBk3t_8Hq9l8LCP3bbsExPIBfZNIqP7UwhQgFx7F4OSzzqCP34uJ46xi2dOnKFFqy1RQC7ASQplAzbfYSjc5TkzGp40SHRSUgH7qbIVbfdp6MFbWEOl0Rjt9-89XcjtFXCE_UdBA/s1600/rogo24.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8cJBMBk3t_8Hq9l8LCP3bbsExPIBfZNIqP7UwhQgFx7F4OSzzqCP34uJ46xi2dOnKFFqy1RQC7ASQplAzbfYSjc5TkzGp40SHRSUgH7qbIVbfdp6MFbWEOl0Rjt9-89XcjtFXCE_UdBA/s400/rogo24.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718848551909534706" /></a>A few things. First, this bird was with an unprecedented number (for Michigan) of white geese (~152-214 individuals) with somewhere between 26 and 69 pure Ross's Geese , a Michigan high count, at least 30 individuals which are hybrids/backcrosses, and at least 76 pure Snow Geese. Sorting through this mess of morphs, age classes, and intermediate phenotypes presented its own challenges, but here is my impression of the bird's actual traits:<div><br /></div><div>1) Body size. My impression was that this bird was perhaps 5-10% more bulky than the smallest, apparently pure ROGO which were present. But I honestly don't know that this makes the bird too large for a pure ROGO, since there is sexual dimorphism and other allowable size variation within the species. It seemed small enough for what I consider a pure ROGO, but not as small as some individual ROGO.</div><div><br /></div><div>2) Bill base/facial feathering junction verticality: I tried very hard to discern the exact pattern of this trait, and left not completely sure of its true expression. Most of the time this juncture appeared perfectly or nearly perfectly vertical to me, but at times (visible in some, but not other, captures above) there seemed to be a slight anterior bulging of the facial feathering, or a slight posterior incursion of the superior bill lobe onto the bird's face. I honestly do not know which view is correct, but most of the time the bird seemed to be within the normal range of ROGO to my eye.</div><div><br /></div><div>3) Bill size and shape: the bird's bill size and shape seemed rather good for pure ROGO most of the time. It was small, triangular, and did not form a continuation of the outline of the bird's forehead like a Canvasback or Ammodramus sparrow (something which often makes me think a bird is intermediate), instead having a 'step down' at the forehead separating the crown from the culmen. I hope I am describing this trait amply. I have seen a dazzling array of expressions of this trait and honestly am not sure how 'flat foreheaded' a bird can be while still being a 'pure' ROGO. But this bird seemed within range of what I consider a pure ROGO, but with less of a 'step down' than some pure ROGO I have seen in person and in print.</div><div><br /></div><div>4) Tomial 'grin' patch: Although the grin patch looks unnervingly large in some of these captures, I believe that the bird's bill was open in all of these instances. One may be able to confirm this by watching the videos. When the bird's bill was shut fully, as is visible in many of the screencaptures, the patch was very small and of uniform width throughout the bill's length. I do not believe it to be out of the range of normal ROGO.</div><div><br /></div><div>5) Plumage: The bird's plumage coloration overall seemed consistent with my understanding of a 'typical' blue morph Ross's Goose: black not brown body coloration, white (not gray) wing coverts, white belly, white face, black nape and neck sides, etc. It is an adult based on the fully pink bill and clean white face and belly, I believe (someone please correct me if this is wrong!). But 2 of the bird's traits gave me some pause, not necessarily because I 'knew' they were out of range, but because I wanted some clarification of whether the literature allows for it in a pure ROGO. The traits are a) the lack of extension of the black on the nape all the way onto the bird's crown, and b) the irregular white patch amongst the black on the bird's flanks rather than the more uniform black flank area depicted in Sibley and Nat'l Geographic, etc. I would really appreciate feedback as to whether these 2 traits are acceptable for a blue morph Ross's Goose or if they might be indicative of SNGO introgression. I would also appreciate knowing whether I have missed any other traits which are 'off' for this putative identification.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think this is enough to get the discussion started. In summary, the bird seems like a strong candidate for a 'pure' blue morph Ross's Goose, to my eye, with a couple possible caveats. Please reply in the comments box below or to my email address caleb.putnam (at) gmail.com </div>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-71437634266808398692012-03-02T08:56:00.024-08:002012-03-05T07:01:19.868-08:00A test of my DSLR UV filter<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span ><br /></span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; " ><span><span>Being a beginner at photography, I have realized what a slow learning curve this process involves. I've been methodically trying to isolate the cause of my constant lack of crispness. Even in comparison to my friends who are shooting identical lenses and bodies, I seem to be unable to match the clarity of the shots I respect the most. I have considered the possible causes<br />one by one: motion blur, depth of focus/f stop, shutter speed too slow. Though I have made some definite progress, I still have never been particularly happy with my results.</span></span><br /></span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Up until now I hadn't considered the possible effect my UV filter might have been having on my image quality. On a whim, I decided to take 2 identical photos of the same bird, back to back, one with the filter on then off. Settings were entirely manual, so no difference there, and although I cropped the images (identically), there was no other manipulation of the files, and here were my results:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >With filter:</span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><span ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEmJSQa_V5HSQWr3ASFB-uMrdnKB6QuGUkr-0VEmZtc4nHF_X92mUVhsEWrjiAKdI0cK7lTXUyEsnvkLxz-Jyyrgpb8o2Hp8gUlHp-mKqepv6IGH4X6NHgq4wXG7DxFd9AhlgqDxdorLw/s400/MODOWITHFILTER.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715345699361704818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px; " /></span></span><div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span >Without filter:</span></div><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><span ></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0a7x0bojfTtY_jtvr_xS8djfmKyIMim-JW9v5WAFyTXGvz36TqR9vC4I3apTmPUX5kaSAqTQY7O3kN1rxad7JsN1hNkvhaVZwJfFT5SCWPlC5YYn-SXUPAKDsyNPTfWv3ZgyGCKaeatUw/s400/modoWITHOUTFILTER.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715345689304406914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px; " /><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><span ></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span >Here are the same shots even more cropped:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span >With filter:</span></div><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><span ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzUDbkuzbXqKQKWxK8NWX8xRqieMzggIUlANvK4yWMKanamNLMmgVYPsChrrbuvTZtgirz6kP-jkI1zunVPeXFbFx7RCepBnjEN5djSOJjkTLeYdHrwPO5CC-zsPgKpU9oLEqSQhFEGWq/s400/MODOSUPERWITHOUT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715355862574970146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 254px; " /><span>Without filter:</span><div><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhiyIoVr1yIEWZY9RfVHFpqSU1amQMGPA54RIddEBOWsnMCsEfiwpeELNVsD4xTHnPY6Ndx4GbSagaPWHdDYPlRGcgZYryISrtXTAIvH2gOv6SxOnuxZdzERUt3m-kTaEQxjUiubKEK7O/s400/MODOSUPERWITH.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715355864711374098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 280px; " /></span></span></div><div></div></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div></div><div><span >I was SHOCKED to say the least. But could this have been due to motion blur on former but not the latter? Or some other cause?</span></div></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >To get to the bottom of this issue, I decided to test it out on a large sample of conditions and subjects. To start, I used the rain hood on all exposures, I mounted the camera/lens setup on my tripod out of the wind, and used the 2 second shutter delay to guarantee the mount wasn't shaking. [I did leave image stabilization on, and now realize I should have shut it off, but the setup was so still I don't think it skewed my results at all.] Settings were entirely manual, and I used center point only autofocus, in each case taking care to put a singular subject right in the dead center of the field and verify that it was in focus before shooting. Here are the results.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >First subject: owl box at about 25 feet from camera</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Original with filter:</span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; " ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxMwrEc0grl9snOYgDV5z4o-DX0ZVXVUNLY6P48G5MJ5lQXW9bXXFgmtqly2yhHM0FNh9NHMuUiosyWAXpWbN5DW2k3rQgQnEhWBcgkAkmve3Skp3DUqXgKjzS4x2HFcipBSaqb6knEhN/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxMwrEc0grl9snOYgDV5z4o-DX0ZVXVUNLY6P48G5MJ5lQXW9bXXFgmtqly2yhHM0FNh9NHMuUiosyWAXpWbN5DW2k3rQgQnEhWBcgkAkmve3Skp3DUqXgKjzS4x2HFcipBSaqb6knEhN/s400/IMG_2080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715347450426489554" /></a>Original without filter:</span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><img style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI2d6NkEf4mJ4UgcDYQDYQ2M1IYeuoPZclp8W528QImOqknw5hSmTtxjo1uMMYGgt7Okr9zt9EFGUbtxNBB3KXxlQXpG62JDyJOrULqTtf5w0E9NNdUtqbp04zXdLtfbT7Nn-FED6Od2k/s400/IMG_2081.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715347440916883010" /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span ></span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; " >Here are the same images, cropped equally and kept at 100% resolution jpgs (ie. not resized):</span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >With filter:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o05FQaniwSpXOJBt_fqBEbYeC_enaJbDT14kmqMrgQprBK2FzlYW8j1qbrL1no0-IJg3wAbU929p3F1wPhfS5FrSRu237xfjVYSH9cWzicuOc8PRrTZ0ufLiFYHBpPLtD5k3v5PyqESx/s1600/boxWITH.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o05FQaniwSpXOJBt_fqBEbYeC_enaJbDT14kmqMrgQprBK2FzlYW8j1qbrL1no0-IJg3wAbU929p3F1wPhfS5FrSRu237xfjVYSH9cWzicuOc8PRrTZ0ufLiFYHBpPLtD5k3v5PyqESx/s400/boxWITH.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715348023223621842" /></a></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span >And without filter: </span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV9aVeDIwDA4VRHVOyZcMOixhzKuKsLwgVwnAJbqvdp0Ncz6dw3HwtRBZFugoY_SOFA2nR7ovwur3olWKmGK23srlNg3ce0kKeB7Epo7z1wpVGxP1CHFi8vAo0g6RbWY2DExY0GiMOM-y/s400/boxWITHOUT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715348025817850242" /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Second subject: Red-tailed Hawk against backlit sky, about 250 feet from the camera:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Original with filter:</span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><span ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrZHAzD-zoQFpMA-GRQeWa7t2Rn7UFYRTgB_shYg-Lm42kcQx7gk3kmfVRRUm7nUdF-EtxvhJ7LOP8rJuAi5MTJNL-8blguYq_uzZ4haa-DEv9odb4Y0XRK6OVu6Xb-sFl_gnvmP4Y55L/s400/IMG_2076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715348943639182482" /></span></span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >And original without filter:</span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><span ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfUuEIpYev-UdXBrXVcgZ67jHxHolzbOrPIQiUi7ymsXk04rU0KzXE03AXf8knBKFwi131l2gtBzNhLJeqsgmCLPXN8fJ0_ibdWqx9JtwTCORJbUFZahHfLIYR7l1JYCzaQfWv2qpeT0p/s400/IMG_2077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715348953000166850" /></span></span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Cropped with filter:</span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; " ><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 389px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUaLGxeyDn-ClRbLYHx9CohCVwx8PBNOMVlzJfd8mo_0aJcS9f4_egrWqt39NlpWxKG92dd0KejHnnPOSoHzpIF8nTDWZ-e7wllpWlu427xC0sJOeaRynzGQfMVyOYZfjd8K5xBrw3Y88/s400/rthaWITH.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715349522318368066" /></span> </span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div><span >Cropped without filter:</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div></div><span ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXyBJwgLj5TAqHv-mjbPUTr4wrN1XtaxsmmwaAa1xtyECSj_vM1VcpPLU6WjG0VvTC5SZosdJx8fAsoX6q-z75dVePcNBODPK9N3_v6EEaj_-JgTZ0gxTfaVnqYA5fgL54oxMWdeNLQm8/s1600/rthaWITHOUT.jpg" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 385px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXyBJwgLj5TAqHv-mjbPUTr4wrN1XtaxsmmwaAa1xtyECSj_vM1VcpPLU6WjG0VvTC5SZosdJx8fAsoX6q-z75dVePcNBODPK9N3_v6EEaj_-JgTZ0gxTfaVnqYA5fgL54oxMWdeNLQm8/s400/rthaWITHOUT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715349517374061858" /><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span>And heavily cropped with:</span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 394px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTI23wT-tdmdDpGXjfGNpFnD0YYfIrjhX2zfF4_kMdY-Sxz-eZCYQ0EQnOMJBL_aot8uyKxr7iCr5RvOkuV8AvqyHHkB-z7Z82KA7yOSg4ROaObkmfnIqe8YKgZMC1gePfPNZn5LZFNtcu/s400/RTHASUPERWITH.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715357867969332850" /></span></a><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXyBJwgLj5TAqHv-mjbPUTr4wrN1XtaxsmmwaAa1xtyECSj_vM1VcpPLU6WjG0VvTC5SZosdJx8fAsoX6q-z75dVePcNBODPK9N3_v6EEaj_-JgTZ0gxTfaVnqYA5fgL54oxMWdeNLQm8/s1600/rthaWITHOUT.jpg"><span><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">Heavily cropped without:</span></div></span></a><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 376px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cA8e6iIsQ80faWWEsKYIJfCNxACoOdRQ6YHxHYqOura10ouuOAdkX98Cx_zSWrw_wjKe64xOU_4n8M-TRyqzKtAbyvKldV2FdGlawcGRy3eCsrUm-sbjAVHy5IS_XFEO8g-jO6u_ejIg/s400/RTHASUPERWITHOUT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715357867499207794" /></span></span></div><div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Subject 3: Suet feeder from 30 feet</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Original with filter:</span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; " ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yMEo2cE67ESONzHcykzC-lg1ERdEDKSrox5O7NKzl2MoXf1Nihw7VPb6dB2YxSgayewL2oL_mtTwdKrz5-GIKSaGQ8CrHU8DY_vL_6rm9w1jBHuuWj5-cZdeX_3uo2p1wIm2byR6kgBq/s400/IMG_2053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715350795868270962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Original without filter:</span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSWkgwmAGJaVau8DKrrskCi-YnywPJKlkBgyLB6V_81qHabcTCc0VadiOIrfrwZrDN1_utqiD_QO9eAi-728fu4TA0f3McvBPB0ycfpaW7Vx46Tuw7WRJX6eY574TO8AxKvbW2fSsYXLg/s400/IMG_2054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715350805836404946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div></div><div><span >Cropped with filter:</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZd1pAosZ_FyP5ZaYARZ-qKGE7OYReR84EvrRhdh0tU7LwWAdS9rT8R5pEXWg6s9XtCbI6yDWQLz2bnw9tm0Oe60ldBOJYK-QB6EluH9KU8112cQkoyV7fXjyse-y5Q4V87cMXXaYjb3c/s400/suetWITH.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715351436142563922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span >Cropped without filter:</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-s8v3avY5fyBSkDjAJwFQ1dnFVOy1dGdCTlKnaYQoNdKWLR89s2TdaLdG-lUPBbBbjbXbf4_ffqhZbeghnK-JnpYMLvH8EqZO0b5nDTOrteLdi5_AJLgXlsxBGyeyzc79CWZjVlSW7P6/s400/suetWITHOUT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715351428826891154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px; " /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Subject 5: House Sparrow from 35 feet:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Cropped with filter:</span></div><span><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; " ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1wMB60CrFYFlCTTKwSfNjNm_Q2l3mQdGf5DndVd37b2FvlLqDYp2BVehSgOJUyQTun_xiAUFiPp1g73aUZHQhVMPb1zk9hqGy3j5xvKemxE74ebCf4ioks8gOH9UJz4HvL9L0hjH2dcR/s400/hospwith.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715351869462639842" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px; " /></span></span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Cropped without filter:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oF_JIdkAPJ5FVZHkzewsktT7lucMZTpFDAOqDo4A0SjLEXU6ftGB9fQdl0zyuYXvr5qoUKiBxZcQCjWbiSojC3zY6ls10E7FRlGUq_4qFkBteY__eRRaDHI2MdZ_63soQkyud_8bxuZ6/s400/hospwithout.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715351863093026658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px; " /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Heavily cropped with:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKExLx1n7Eme565Zw1DPIIhA6TO2iGMLjxE4slOXweHXEiRBhUIRfRd7EJZw6O9aBEd65qSxFjjdo5-55TOKo3WbzVSuqgYM90bQZMF4sXXDE7JTaphTfiwWzRtyAkfSuxHSJ-cwDC5sMw/s400/hospSUPERWITH.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715354999652081554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px; " /></span></div><div><span ><span>Heavily cropped without:</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKE_1yhCzFXdGBHJ6AEZVALe3h6qtftLeajI8M5tnEtWuwdSngN_SN247VESNRd3RU6AD-EzHjWWiEbzUfy9a0xmPoisQnYKMMsfteg2pYZ9VnhazLAaPCQ92Pio5c8TQk5j_Iy05EBJ5/s400/hospSUPERWITHOUT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715354995152742386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px; " /></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Subject 5: Honda Civic from 50 feet:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Cropped with filter:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><br /></span></div><span><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; " ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_mwkIJiMEanwKcBUmx31XZkUrs32WkmrCaRUiIpO91K__4N2li8aISX0r8KAu6Mf_lAxxyyHL5ZGyOCqNOX4lGLesz0h61Az1CkFwpzr6UXHLBMBeClQQMdtJc-uFXumR7g4xxohJftH/s400/civic+without.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715352228861378418" /></span></span><div><span ><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span><span>Cropped without filter:</span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV8iHyKH3QydMSF7ziZvrZFRfI2bRRU-A7WTPqG0Y6MgjPija8Pb6GaxB98YtMXEePgeyzDz1WhBg0SNAB6KRXrsM2-CH4jmP0qcuHPOo65GWuVj_QJkdt7XMPZLwzmqCNBo3vIZLq_38/s400/civic+with.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715352226583999378" /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span >Subject 6:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span >Sign from 100 feet:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >Cropped significantly, with filter:</span></div><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><span ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayyk3rEVfQ-NJ64m3DSGV-5QaZwznrs1U_xnyohfMJdO1dXuUNBCxjxX1NoA0fhItuA5otWKiMgNJmgjATk8WGviUuj5BN9hiYwyPpXbHUdeArAQeNrGwl3Yff9y5RxqIwA-5bdao6TAa/s400/notresWITH.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715352830000831938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 359px; " /></span></span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span >Cropped significantly, without filter:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 338px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR0kxHLo10YpCxuoMIOhAfYgcGIvbZnC3048aq77sSJPiTquf0boi2Lj1ZyroepZXTNpmBazVDZ74LoWd-kmG_LIUANSZv_lgTb2H9Uv1QlK9qHwhP1xSqkhsmrXzQo7ZYHEtBpMkXzXG/s400/notresWITHOUT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715352830272395762" /></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><span >Subject 7: Mute Swans at 1,000 feet</span></div><div><span ><span><span>Cropped with filter:</span></span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><br /></span></div><span ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOUXLQO4CXAejL3jnhxzErjUzB-sNxjn63XDCzYLZ-WDf0Jcn8W0V2vmY3uYudWU7AlH4EYp5YxHQYGeJ-XAh0MTnZ6s2rZ7OgzFCJ-gMTbTKPHpn5xtRkg881FutG5OY8xu6ozxzRhaZ/s1600/swanwith.jpg" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOUXLQO4CXAejL3jnhxzErjUzB-sNxjn63XDCzYLZ-WDf0Jcn8W0V2vmY3uYudWU7AlH4EYp5YxHQYGeJ-XAh0MTnZ6s2rZ7OgzFCJ-gMTbTKPHpn5xtRkg881FutG5OY8xu6ozxzRhaZ/s400/swanwith.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715390769608355458" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Cropped without filter:</span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4buaiUqZ5DccDjCNk5hb84AeBQI27CjBaG44nFKjXf4iVuttX20Ys0XEQOcF34pycIYGW8gGvwowxEZ2DNw0wgg5sFMoBPghdkt584iCygrDlaGaHlZPuFG2ZmsWD93tP60-EKXFWVaq/s400/swanwithout.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715390774017532514" /></a><br />Subject 8: bluebird house nail mount at 15 feet</span></div><div><span >Cropped slightly with filter:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxiOpgRk_wDyzMfrBbo19sqrwgKfn2vys_1ZXjkfOVMziN7Ih-i08DBCtFGKlycyGG8XXSgeM61qwBR47rKx4lSA9R8vJsqusU3R65O750eSJR7dXr9MnsQA7_QiilDZsCjVNsiLotyNj/s1600/EABLwith.jpg" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxiOpgRk_wDyzMfrBbo19sqrwgKfn2vys_1ZXjkfOVMziN7Ih-i08DBCtFGKlycyGG8XXSgeM61qwBR47rKx4lSA9R8vJsqusU3R65O750eSJR7dXr9MnsQA7_QiilDZsCjVNsiLotyNj/s400/EABLwith.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715390765506506386" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Cropped slightly without filter:</span> </a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUZiAGp_MGw_gS8fl9k-eya66GEBnzXS5Z4MKh7a-ZJKHVHSPXUyTw7_LLTDTPaO6YEgUN1j7B047X-jr-sCzpKf3P7_ujuY8cLG_lgrDTwTsq00LwKabTN1X77KDe4rGxtPh5Rxjl6Vv/s1600/EABLwithout.jpg" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUZiAGp_MGw_gS8fl9k-eya66GEBnzXS5Z4MKh7a-ZJKHVHSPXUyTw7_LLTDTPaO6YEgUN1j7B047X-jr-sCzpKf3P7_ujuY8cLG_lgrDTwTsq00LwKabTN1X77KDe4rGxtPh5Rxjl6Vv/s400/EABLwithout.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715390751110707762" /></a><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Needless to say, this seals the deal for me. This filter is clearly damaging the crispness of my images, more so at long range and with increased cropping. But since I am not trying to print or sell photos, just to document rare birds, often at range, it just isn't working for me. The filter is a Promaster 77mm UV filter, and was admittedly the cheapest option I had, something like $20-30. I bought it only to protect the actual camera lens from being struck by branches or any hard object it comes into contact with. So clearly I am going to have to find a better solution to this problem. </span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >I do secure the rain sleeve in the out position at all times, and perhaps this is enough to protect the lens under most circumstances? I would really appreciate the opinions of other photographers as to whether I should try to buy a more expensive filter, or if there is some other option for protecting my lens and leaving the filter off.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-86508144033250214562012-02-19T14:22:00.000-08:002012-02-20T10:08:23.318-08:00Solving the riddle of the ravenNo, that title is not some poetic reference (I am not well-rounded enough to have such things at my fingertips). Rather than quoth the raven, I just want to know where she lives.<br /><br />OK, so on March 15, 2009 (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S6392013">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S6392013</a>), I was hiking in the Rogue River SGA when I heard a Common Raven in flight deep within the Game Area. I tried to call it in, but never saw the bird. Then on August 7, 2010 (<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S6734087">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S6734087)</a>as I drove Red Pine Dr. through the Game Area on a hot summer afternoon, I encountered a silent Common Raven flying right over my car, along the roadside. This one never called, and despite my many playback attempts never came back to check me out.<br /><br />These two happenstance encounters have proved to be my only sightings of this rare species for Kent County. The timing of it all really made me believe that these birds are likely to be breeding somewhere in the Game Area, and were not transient non-breeding visitors, but despite some effort hiking the remote areas of the Game Area for Northern Goshawk surveys, I have never been able to nail down their location, or that of a potential nest.<br /><br />Fast forward to today. The clear skies really helped build up some quality thermals by noon, and so I decided to spend a little time at Fisk Knob, the highest point in Kent County, to see what raptors might be riding them. Fisk Knob is about 3 miles due NE of the NE corner of the Rogue River SGA, and offers a complete panoramic view of the south horizon, including the skies above the SGA. Pretty quickly into my survey I spotted a Bald Eagle about a mile to my south, heading west. I lost him for a while, then respotted the bird when it was more like 2.5-3 miles to my southwest, much farther out in the heat haze, but rather high up. It was being mobbed (or attended in its thermal?) by two other birds: the first was obviously an American Crow, and the 2nd bird, clearly intermediate in size between the two. I assumed it was going to be a Red-tailed Hawk, but was shocked up putting the scope on it to see that it was indeed a Common Raven! <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9904738">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9904738</a> The bird was actively soaring (ravens love this), and had an obviously wedge-shaped tail and much thinner wing proportions than the crow. It harassed the eagle briefly, then worked its way south steadily.<br /><br />I got one crappy video of the bird by digiscoping with my point and shoot, which is here:<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IwfmiOjPwhE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe> But this isn't going to do much other than show a large black bird. I eventually lost the bird to the south of its initial position, as it headed further south.<br /><br />So, to me, this is a pretty clear indication of local breeding and presumed resident pair of Common Ravens, somewhere in or near Rogue River SGA. I spent the remainder of the afternoon driving the roads I <span style="font-style: italic;">thought </span>the bird to have been soaring above, but predictably came up empty-handed. Man I want to solve this riddle and find out where these things are nesting (they are early nesters, starting as early as January I believe, so chances are they're on eggs as we speak).<br /><br />Here is the current status of my estimate as to where this territory might lie. First, I estimate the bird to have been at least 3 miles from my position at Fisk Knob when I took the video. I actually scoped Fisk Knob from Albrecht and 20 Mile, a distance of 2.5 miles, and based on the heat distortion estimated that the bird was farther than 2.5 miles from Fisk Knob when I saw it. Here is what 3 miles from Fisk Knob looks like:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9givw7TY_CeUUhCP5BJvhQkgsCV4gZhp8c3gMLcCqYWmzlYQDOxBC2qruXZ-DNPWLg_RmqMyukaoAvEDxX0phH-5suLcBGeMnrTDwcZZaZ0m-C5SNWoxfgaQwX16UPeDM_dtKcAR8sNw/s1600/cora1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9givw7TY_CeUUhCP5BJvhQkgsCV4gZhp8c3gMLcCqYWmzlYQDOxBC2qruXZ-DNPWLg_RmqMyukaoAvEDxX0phH-5suLcBGeMnrTDwcZZaZ0m-C5SNWoxfgaQwX16UPeDM_dtKcAR8sNw/s400/cora1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710979855206677138" border="0" /></a>The N-S road just east of the endpoint is Albrecht Rd. Now combining the approximate vectors of my sightings (ie. just north of due SW at its northmost, and to a point well south of SW at its southmost) with the ~3 mile distance gives:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZYPAYAeMTum7dKbqB_GDSuWmiTM8PSLoPkM2qHoTJsrb0fBklcA3x257tOufP-08miJUypEybPoQitYSgVu4pk6pjXfe2C-wKbafFYX9cpDwzBwESkWyeKO9ojd0QRXRaW3xw8HxXX9T/s1600/cora2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZYPAYAeMTum7dKbqB_GDSuWmiTM8PSLoPkM2qHoTJsrb0fBklcA3x257tOufP-08miJUypEybPoQitYSgVu4pk6pjXfe2C-wKbafFYX9cpDwzBwESkWyeKO9ojd0QRXRaW3xw8HxXX9T/s400/cora2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710979853278335074" border="0" /></a>And finally, given that my hunch is that the bird was possibly upwards of 4-5 miles (estimating distances up there is extremely difficult!), I added this green area. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tVlksFrtBSh03IxpO1pCBxFi0tiNmSVUgDZ3Q_Pq__FszAcWBmGRaTsO76BA6lBGojmYB9-xpcUHLt0eKrtELlaUAiJ89T2e0HxAtAIRo2vebn3F_ZawvyAE5EDiroivrX-VT__MqMN5/s1600/cora3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tVlksFrtBSh03IxpO1pCBxFi0tiNmSVUgDZ3Q_Pq__FszAcWBmGRaTsO76BA6lBGojmYB9-xpcUHLt0eKrtELlaUAiJ89T2e0HxAtAIRo2vebn3F_ZawvyAE5EDiroivrX-VT__MqMN5/s400/cora3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710979862206311890" border="0" /></a>The heavily forested sections of both the red and green polygons, and to their west, is the Rogue River SGA. Indeed, here are the locations of my 2 prior sightings in relation to the polygons from today:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70J36ZfcC05Kq2qSSwxNKU-9oMYbfPPHh3robRDAwU9JQHIx9ZcZWVIfntOGxltU_7ERSx0IMjWzWwirwxs2NmNEfPiv3AgtgDcW2yZkvWQqs1OUwOiWuOkAw38YHqGZe6Pw_ADXhvwb2/s1600/cora4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70J36ZfcC05Kq2qSSwxNKU-9oMYbfPPHh3robRDAwU9JQHIx9ZcZWVIfntOGxltU_7ERSx0IMjWzWwirwxs2NmNEfPiv3AgtgDcW2yZkvWQqs1OUwOiWuOkAw38YHqGZe6Pw_ADXhvwb2/s400/cora4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710982285414596802" border="0" /></a>So, who's going to be the one who solves this riddle? Birding is all a big game of puzzles, in my opinion. Ravens have a home range of 5-40 km squared according to one source I have. This is 1.5 - 15 square miles, depending on the available resources in the territory and competition from other ravens. This is the extreme southern limit of the range of this species in Michigan, so competition shouldn't be heavy, but perhaps resources are more limited here than in the northern haunts. In any event, these birds are quiet around the nest and likely to be moving around a lot, so detecting the 1 Raven in this area which isn't sitting on a nest is not a trivial task! I will be trying hard to nail down this bird and get a good photo once and for all.<br /><br />Since almost all of the other listers in Kent County still need this species, I am sure they are cheering for me.<div><br /></div><div>_____________________________________________________________________</div><div>Postscript (added Feb 20): Additional research has now led me to the conclusion that this species was last documented nesting in the southern lower peninsula on March 18, 1890, in Almena Twp., Van Buren County (Barrows 1912, p. 418 [Michigan Bird Life]) by "Mr. Sikes", of a nest 60 t up in a broken sycamore top containing 2 small, noisy, youngsters. This location is somewhere within a swamp several miles long and 2 miles wide, along the N. Branch of the Paw Paw River, so likely here, just north of the current day Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qk5WDFP3W-3rEa10eVfvXoIoW2rYJkZKS7GPcihHYtanDmh5-DQ6EBpmb8HOp0ylOU6KsoLZGRFrbFT6q4fNuCntxl-Z2TF8MaEKPvpKcQjtSMHCdELpvF5N6If9luxArGnEXsQ46qz5/s1600/CORAnest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qk5WDFP3W-3rEa10eVfvXoIoW2rYJkZKS7GPcihHYtanDmh5-DQ6EBpmb8HOp0ylOU6KsoLZGRFrbFT6q4fNuCntxl-Z2TF8MaEKPvpKcQjtSMHCdELpvF5N6If9luxArGnEXsQ46qz5/s400/CORAnest.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711280259834457794" /></a><div>Anyway, the point is that according to both the first and second breeding bird atlas accounts, this species does not seem to have any territories south of the tension zone, or more specifically, south of Newaygo, Mecosta, Oceana and Midland Counties: Co. <a href="http://www.mibirdatlas.org/Portals/12/MBA2010/CORAaccount.pdf" style="font-size: 100%; ">http://www.mibirdatlas.org/Portals/12/MBA2010/CORAaccount.pdf</a></div><div>If there is a nesting pair of ravens in Rogue River SGA, they will be the first documented nesting pair for the southern lower peninsula in about 122 years! Needless to say, my motivation to document a nest is rather large now. More soon....</div>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-71063828295670925662012-02-04T12:16:00.001-08:002012-02-04T12:53:54.159-08:00Hoary timeOn December 6, 2007, several years before I became interested in Kent County listing, I received a call from a friend who had a frosty adult male Hoary Redpoll in with 200 Commons about 10 minutes away. I rushed over to the scene just to see a rare bird, only to find that only 75 redpolls remained, not including the one I was looking for. I searched for several days and never saw more than 75 birds nor the Hoary.<br /><br />A similar scene played out at the DeBruine residence in eastern Kent Co. yesterday, and was even more painful now that I am interested in the species for my county list. Minutes before I arrived, the flock of 120 Commons with 2+ candidates for Hoary departed, and only 50-60 Commons remained. Oh, the agony. I assumed the flock of over 100 would never return, but was pleasantly surprised by the appearance today of about 200 Commons (many thanks to the DeBruine family for their amazing hospitality and birding ardor- there are a LOT of birders in that household!). Upon arrival today at about 11:15AM I was treated to two very good Hoary Redpoll candidates. Let's get right to the field marks:<br /><br />Individual 1. This bird, like the other, was extremely frosty white, and stood out amongst the Commons very clearly, at distance, by naked eye. Neither bird had red on the breast/underparts, making them both NOT adult males, I believe. The flank streaking on bird 1 was very sparse and fine, quite delicate (and beautiful!). Its undertail coverts had but one streak on the longest coverts, and its upperparts and crown were very frosty white. The uppertail coverts and rump were not seen. Like the second bird, its bill was small, nasal tuft large, and the bird had a small red cap and bull-headed appearance. This changed with angle somewhat:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xhz_HRCM_QM8YOJXVvnylsa9vVUHrqbrdM8rTb5NrepBg_B_fNw4Z6sGK5USpN_XveqVToRdSHr_Szc7zFfdCClYCrmEiyJ3Wi8_lsOcHY7GAadocEdsf0WdMygJxbsuq1Ize5qWQXwI/s1600/HORE1_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xhz_HRCM_QM8YOJXVvnylsa9vVUHrqbrdM8rTb5NrepBg_B_fNw4Z6sGK5USpN_XveqVToRdSHr_Szc7zFfdCClYCrmEiyJ3Wi8_lsOcHY7GAadocEdsf0WdMygJxbsuq1Ize5qWQXwI/s400/HORE1_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705378313607155394" border="0" /></a>Frosty upperparts and single undertail covert streak:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LLMx6MIj_O9VDPnN-8h6fcDVz3c9-qfZwV2Z1ojsNJUYlhVhu-sKcYBRpF09_-nHW4IKL375-ptIZXZY5spbUVOl4IR9jrsrdlaKKWAaF6rOIW2Jhk0nhYfC2Chb42-aAqtjpJEyhsc-/s1600/HORE2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LLMx6MIj_O9VDPnN-8h6fcDVz3c9-qfZwV2Z1ojsNJUYlhVhu-sKcYBRpF09_-nHW4IKL375-ptIZXZY5spbUVOl4IR9jrsrdlaKKWAaF6rOIW2Jhk0nhYfC2Chb42-aAqtjpJEyhsc-/s400/HORE2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705378324864934322" border="0" /></a>Bird 2 was similarly frosty to the first bird, and stood out naked eye just as much as bird 1. This bird was more streaky on the flanks (immature female?), but was very frosty overall, especially on the scapulars, mantle, and crown. Its rump was completely white and unstreaked (pics below), the undertail coverts again had 1 streak on the longest feathers, and it had an even more pronounced bull-headed appearance. This is shown well in my photographs:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccdnrHeSY9krOd4q9WDK7U87jG3wXwj_9W3VXDwwfdwupUNNDyjv0fpv7LuPh_O-8vcljexL7HUmmOZB_gK9X-MKSgTFOJVQ0Dt3UBEczvxQf5Ma_Eel3t2Jor7A2OuZBsKeQmh19GjJP/s1600/HORE3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccdnrHeSY9krOd4q9WDK7U87jG3wXwj_9W3VXDwwfdwupUNNDyjv0fpv7LuPh_O-8vcljexL7HUmmOZB_gK9X-MKSgTFOJVQ0Dt3UBEczvxQf5Ma_Eel3t2Jor7A2OuZBsKeQmh19GjJP/s400/HORE3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705378316362214450" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMz-KGisFOkuzzITGVCrPgr7iC_iMetow51TaKANyGl60kUfnMv0XIHhoCY0oOe8iLhd2CRQkOBmZWuS98u5t_q_qJL5T-O1DGq84uZrIsMV_m8RJKaeC-kWAoT35k_-x9SxgDq6ZzBcW/s1600/HORE5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMz-KGisFOkuzzITGVCrPgr7iC_iMetow51TaKANyGl60kUfnMv0XIHhoCY0oOe8iLhd2CRQkOBmZWuS98u5t_q_qJL5T-O1DGq84uZrIsMV_m8RJKaeC-kWAoT35k_-x9SxgDq6ZzBcW/s400/HORE5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705377380514641778" border="0" /></a>Rump looked like a white sugarcube:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4h8SYI_w0k07OxW1EiUuKdc_HWobFdq21vNATZM6TkAdeN3FracJcY2fzhERZx-1oNUrY8jcVdQ1ZErDV1d1IrjfvrdOTtNTBokEtxi6sSH6qkklg9lf-HpVWp2VqwfuQj8z7aOHQjYg/s1600/HORE6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4h8SYI_w0k07OxW1EiUuKdc_HWobFdq21vNATZM6TkAdeN3FracJcY2fzhERZx-1oNUrY8jcVdQ1ZErDV1d1IrjfvrdOTtNTBokEtxi6sSH6qkklg9lf-HpVWp2VqwfuQj8z7aOHQjYg/s400/HORE6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705377373334109106" border="0" /></a>This photo shows how well the bird stood out from the many Common Redpolls.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE2Jmlvbg4cE6ZLbNUYIpbF-k7_ecutVmBQ9TVpxvgi0cWl0q37stVmD9id0K0kPkVfbGGYgQZ0wad57SFF8wM99pkonKbdAnot1KACP-Eml1rZ3rxTEl0gjx3uHrpbhMes6Dzye_yoLj/s1600/HORE7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE2Jmlvbg4cE6ZLbNUYIpbF-k7_ecutVmBQ9TVpxvgi0cWl0q37stVmD9id0K0kPkVfbGGYgQZ0wad57SFF8wM99pkonKbdAnot1KACP-Eml1rZ3rxTEl0gjx3uHrpbhMes6Dzye_yoLj/s400/HORE7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705377369813991586" border="0" /></a>The nasal tufts were prounced, giving it the bull-headed appearance:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1t3cceQGab9sXfo0KUDIXUUO9SXcDwME6FJV_zMPKCrdFgdM4eh7EOcP1pxrgZzYnLAhc-AdsYnAC-ZVHiFD-jQvABwez6wALQ-TZUR_6TuDkjzkg9GXtHhH53Y2PvtrJHpyfbI9cCuSN/s1600/HORE8.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1t3cceQGab9sXfo0KUDIXUUO9SXcDwME6FJV_zMPKCrdFgdM4eh7EOcP1pxrgZzYnLAhc-AdsYnAC-ZVHiFD-jQvABwez6wALQ-TZUR_6TuDkjzkg9GXtHhH53Y2PvtrJHpyfbI9cCuSN/s400/HORE8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705377367473990242" border="0" /></a>Frosty upperparts and single undertail covert streak:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUHOCjPxL2oW8masmktmyBXRjxg8Yj2ExM-ghv8aaZbVEXqKgdvM53mB8fLQVX95s5p-aqvkgLq_EErLuWnGH-xoK7WhkmfKawtn_emkAe6dHXn3ok18uXHq7OOK_wQHkF8pn04_CM75N/s1600/HORE4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUHOCjPxL2oW8masmktmyBXRjxg8Yj2ExM-ghv8aaZbVEXqKgdvM53mB8fLQVX95s5p-aqvkgLq_EErLuWnGH-xoK7WhkmfKawtn_emkAe6dHXn3ok18uXHq7OOK_wQHkF8pn04_CM75N/s400/HORE4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705377388652697378" border="0" /></a><br />In terms of grading these 2 birds using <a href="http://sibleyguides.blogspot.com/search?q=redpoll+index">Sibley's index</a> I scored these birds like this:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bird 1</span><br />Undertail: 5<br />Flanks: 5<br />Rump: not seen<br />Score: Tough with rump not being seen, but rump was presumably not 1-3, making the total score at least 14. <a href="http://sibleyguides.blogspot.com/search?q=redpoll+index">Sibley mentions</a> that for female/immatures, 11 would be enough to qualify as Hoary, so even if it had a 1 (the lowest value), it would still be so.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bird 2</span><br />Undertail: 5<br />Flanks: 4<br />Uppertail: 5<br />Score: 14<br />Sibley says no female/immatures scored higher than 13, so presumably I have incorrectly assigned these values, but since 11 is enough to make it a Hoary, I believe this ID is fairly conservative.<br /><br />What a fun and strange winter it is! Over 50 degrees, in shorts, and have seen a Hoary Redpoll all in the same day.Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-19875104844208244192012-01-20T19:00:00.000-08:002012-01-21T14:38:32.162-08:00Learning DSLR photographySo, I recently acquired a Canon 60D, a 300mm f/4 IS Canon lens, and 1.4 converter. However, I had basically no idea how to use it when I got it. Goal was to learn as quickly as possible, and to get to a point where I have a really nice backlog of copyright free materials at my disposal, and perhaps to start scoring some nice flight shots of birds unlike anything I could do with digiscoping gear.<div><br /></div><div>I am still quite terrible, but I have made enough mistakes that I am beginning to get it, I think. When I was shooting the Purple Sandpiper in a previous post, I was forced to use f5.6 (the largest aperture possible with the 1.4 converter) because of the low light conditions. Little dd I realize that a bird at the close extreme of my focal distance, that the face and wing would not ever be in focus together. Will try not to make that mistake again next time! Perhaps I should have removed the converter<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>and attempted a smaller aperture to allow a greater depth of field and still accomodate a good shutter speed at such low light?</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are a few shots I have taken recently which are getting slightly better, though I still find myself unhappy with essentially every shot that comes off my memory card. This is going to be a long process!</div><div><br /></div><div>White-breasted Nuthatch, one of my favorites I've taken yet:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lmEOsy6mXRXFeBa0SvynKCL9VH1zaPTZ1IHrEXYrl35NAwF2C7Zrw1buvihLPPJ_pmYFG9dgW4qEwax2GFRJE4a6R-TGnNRADyrA-J4Acm10AadXjgdcynhaKxI94iAGuTNy-AOCrCq0/s1600/WBNU.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lmEOsy6mXRXFeBa0SvynKCL9VH1zaPTZ1IHrEXYrl35NAwF2C7Zrw1buvihLPPJ_pmYFG9dgW4qEwax2GFRJE4a6R-TGnNRADyrA-J4Acm10AadXjgdcynhaKxI94iAGuTNy-AOCrCq0/s400/WBNU.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699916467397169042" /></a>Rare wintering White-throated Sparrow at Richmond Park in Grand Rapids<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXS_BmvRZEbWcQYnGmyWKIs2PTrSyfen-Y0r8vf8XAGhrCh8XC5V7C1KE_GxtxHerLIEuuvm-TaD0LGrKCtqeOAZkKMHj7sYtWtubPzV625BFaHNBGlJH2o5zMGxjava97ZRxWR7tTZSL/s1600/WTSP.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXS_BmvRZEbWcQYnGmyWKIs2PTrSyfen-Y0r8vf8XAGhrCh8XC5V7C1KE_GxtxHerLIEuuvm-TaD0LGrKCtqeOAZkKMHj7sYtWtubPzV625BFaHNBGlJH2o5zMGxjava97ZRxWR7tTZSL/s400/WTSP.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699916456595898226" /></a>Black-capped Chickadee (VERY tough to photograph!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYsnMr8Z_KNmzGwa4pV1OXB6nI5rTGvUY8VcbLqezC1iK4e6WEriGFlowH2sszr11UZGrtqhtJ0ZCkJqWTyyGvmfJYbfGPeg2dYX-pANp7QjZasoy61ce4uurwVYbMboCR39KVllDFDXH/s1600/BCCH.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYsnMr8Z_KNmzGwa4pV1OXB6nI5rTGvUY8VcbLqezC1iK4e6WEriGFlowH2sszr11UZGrtqhtJ0ZCkJqWTyyGvmfJYbfGPeg2dYX-pANp7QjZasoy61ce4uurwVYbMboCR39KVllDFDXH/s400/BCCH.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699916451084954786" /></a>Red-tailed Hawk<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON8dACmkiwUIEu__j1c65gPG46R4oTK0oOvrwaLfQoMzuChJV9q5R13OWJ6VLk1GkKQggENqDZepx7rsUDLjZn4mSRuzZsR0dNNwSX1r1Epq_FPSohgO1lA1MOHWQkuritle-v2RJqbpC/s1600/RTHA.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON8dACmkiwUIEu__j1c65gPG46R4oTK0oOvrwaLfQoMzuChJV9q5R13OWJ6VLk1GkKQggENqDZepx7rsUDLjZn4mSRuzZsR0dNNwSX1r1Epq_FPSohgO1lA1MOHWQkuritle-v2RJqbpC/s400/RTHA.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699916442690036578" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">I find photography extremely difficult. Perhaps I am not alone?</div>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-67834184973273234722012-01-09T10:49:00.001-08:002012-01-11T10:40:24.039-08:00FinchesIt has been quite amazing to see that White-winged Crossbills seem to invade the south every winter now, at least in small numbers. They have done so each winter since 2008/2009 when we had the largest invasion in recent decades. While searching for Red Crossbill at local cemeteries this weekend I had what I am almost sure was a Type 1 or Type 2 Red Crossbill fly over, giving the 'toop' call rather than the standard 'tik-tik'. It gave the note 3 times spaced out by 2 seconds+ each time, then was never heard again. It did not land, apparently. Here is the checklist for that day:<br /><br /><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9539984">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9539984<br /></a><br />So today I returned to check if the putative Red Crossbill might put in another appearance. It didn't, though Randy Vandermolen and I were able to score some awesome closeup experience with a flock of 6 White-winged Crossbills. They clearly preferred the smaller spruce cones (not sure of species, but the cones were 1/3 the length of Norway Spruce cones). Enjoy:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/6668094783/" title="White-winged Crossbills, Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs, MI, January 9, 2012 by larus10, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6668094783_c5cb59f939.jpg" alt="White-winged Crossbills, Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs, MI, January 9, 2012"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/6668094165/" title="White-winged Crossbills, Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs, MI, January 9, 2012 by larus10, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6668094165_71a200762a.jpg" alt="White-winged Crossbills, Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs, MI, January 9, 2012"></a><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fjhhwAh_Opo" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6yDW-gynWPk" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />And finally, here is the checklist from today:<br /><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9544943">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9544943</a><br /><br />and a hugely valuable resource for those of us wanting to learn the differing vocalizations, bill sizes, and tree preferences of the various types of Red Crossbills:<br /><br /><a href="http://research.amnh.org/vz/ornithology/crossbills/diagnosis.html">http://research.amnh.org/vz/ornithology/crossbills/diagnosis.html</a>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-72408362160974913872012-01-07T17:03:00.000-08:002012-01-07T18:50:57.448-08:00It's NOT a misnomer after allThere aren't too many occasions where a relatively common species that I know well produces a revelation. But not only did this happen to me today, it also happened to a compadre of mine with me at the time. Someone sporting a roughly equal resume of bird experience and study.<br /><br />Let's back up for a second. Ever wonder why Red-bellied Woodpeckers are named as such? Why aren't they called Red-crowned Woodpecker? You not only never see red underneath, and the first thing you notice when you see the bird is the red on the top of the head. So what gives? The answer has to do with the fact that the folks who named them didn't observe them in the field so much as in the museum drawer. And in the museum drawer, birds are laid out on their backs, so that the belly of the bird is what you see when you open the tray. Sure enough, Red-bellied Woodpeckers do have a red belly patch, but it is not something you'll ever see in the field unless you go way out of your way to look for it. There are plenty of other species for which I've always considered the common name to be a misnomer or at least a strange choice, including: Ring-necked Duck (how about Ring-billed Duck?), Blue-winged Warbler (c'mon, there is no blue there), Orange-crowned Warbler (who ever really sees the orange?), Purple Finch (Rose Finch?), etc. <br /><br />So another bird I'd always considered a member of this list was Purple Sandpiper. Despite the cool name, all of my efforts to establish that "surely this name must have some merit: there must be SOME purple somewhere on this bird" were unsuccessful. Furthermore, I've never even heard anybody say to me that it actually does have it. So it was with a fairly great shock that I looked at my fresh closeup photos of 7 Purple Sandpipers at Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon MI only to see a fairly bright purple iridescence!! Exhibit:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/6655984031/" title="Purple Sandpiper, Muskegon MI, January 7, 2011 by larus10, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6655984031_fe11a1e4a1.jpg" alt="Purple Sandpiper, Muskegon MI, January 7, 2011" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />And that ain't no pseudo-purple. That is the real deal. Yes, it is clearly an iridescence as opposed to a pigmentation, but wow! Skye and I were totally blown away by this. The coloration is visible on at least the tertials, scapulars, mantle, proximal wing coverts, and even on the crown (!). Here are the other best views of this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/6655969823/" title="Purple Sandpiper, Muskegon MI, January 7, 2011 by larus10, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6655969823_97f9e9cee2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Purple Sandpiper, Muskegon MI, January 7, 2011"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/6655985317/" title="Purple Sandpiper, Muskegon MI, January 7, 2011 by larus10, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6655985317_a103cb863b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Purple Sandpiper, Muskegon MI, January 7, 2011"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27846187@N07/6655997329/" title="Purple Sandpiper, Muskegon MI, January 7, 2011 by larus10, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6655997329_8a0a15b2be.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Purple Sandpiper, Muskegon MI, January 7, 2011"></a><br /><br />It is really neat to finally know, after all these years, that the Purple Sandpiper really is purple... Who knows what I'll learn next.<br /><br />(and oh yeah, here is the eBird complete checklist for the site: <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9527037">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9527037</a>)Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-53106030844983652622011-12-15T13:14:00.000-08:002011-12-15T14:59:21.269-08:00A little out-of-county jauntBut this was no ordinary chase. This was a bird (Slaty-backed Gull) we've been thinking about for many years now, but haven't even had a candidate to chase after anywhere in Michigan. The <a href="http://www.michiganaudubon.org/research/recordscommittee/photo_gallery.html/title/slaty-backed-gull">only existing Michigan record</a> is from 1981, a one day wonder at the Sault Ste. Marie dump which was not chasable. This bird has provided little solace. Especially in light of the rash of recent records in the Great Lakes region, notably multiple records from Minnesota and Wisconsin, and at least one from the Illinois/Indiana area of Lake Michigan. Anyway, not a few of us state listers have dreamt of finding our own adult Slaty-backed Gull at our local dump. It just seems SO identifiable, and just a matter of time. But in this case, Dan Duso of the Saginaw Bay area found himself in this enviable position while birding the Republic Landfill near Standish, Bay County, 2 days ago. His initial reports and photos of a possible Slaty-backed Gull started to trickle out on the 13th, and the first chasers arrived on scene yesterday, posting<a href="http://web.me.com/karloverman/Site/North_American_Birds__rails_thru_Jaegers/Pages/Slaty-backed_Gull.html"> these tantalizing photos </a>which appeared to clinch the ID issue (with a mantle this dark one really only had to assess the extent and position of white in the outer primaries to make a confident ID).<br /><br />So, the chase was on. I arrived mid-morning and was able to get some pretty amazing views as this bird hurtled over the dump with 1000+ Herrings, ~10 Glaucous, 1 Great Black-backed, at least 2 Iceland Gulls, and a handful of Ring-billeds:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyro0GqpDCaM3dWx_2y_NBpshuzvbu3m6FYDiplfPSBI2xcebUw1x9JLpdIOY9N_FqNY7yHc1wlwsRm6cifV-YuhqBaSFJrhot7Wc6HahKms3KRU7KCqvdbDvEx6ayx5jLSb_9aNsaH9sW/s1600/SBGU6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyro0GqpDCaM3dWx_2y_NBpshuzvbu3m6FYDiplfPSBI2xcebUw1x9JLpdIOY9N_FqNY7yHc1wlwsRm6cifV-YuhqBaSFJrhot7Wc6HahKms3KRU7KCqvdbDvEx6ayx5jLSb_9aNsaH9sW/s400/SBGU6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686470004591951890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcghzyT2taiD-DXN6qosc1ObtN8HGtFKsCDf-xxUIQ__c9d4gYvelxaUmOAo4Xc6nSTN0sI4D_zUH3RTD1Bb8JfDtqFZNskBFxMWl5LL6LWQ9OUIW_q-431rIP1mwlyVdH2cvI9V3cXVc0/s1600/SBGU5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcghzyT2taiD-DXN6qosc1ObtN8HGtFKsCDf-xxUIQ__c9d4gYvelxaUmOAo4Xc6nSTN0sI4D_zUH3RTD1Bb8JfDtqFZNskBFxMWl5LL6LWQ9OUIW_q-431rIP1mwlyVdH2cvI9V3cXVc0/s400/SBGU5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686466966859937986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8Vz5KU307hEUvYY0_3_9jaydSRlYGr_EWJ2WbcioaKhnDSAf3K547fEumz3gBSXg8X8nFK9KD355ZyazUy9cT7StBVvPBZDXNyHIKwaeNeBFkgWFTS7WkhS7yqSUZPxnI9cg43DDkWR4/s1600/SBGU4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8Vz5KU307hEUvYY0_3_9jaydSRlYGr_EWJ2WbcioaKhnDSAf3K547fEumz3gBSXg8X8nFK9KD355ZyazUy9cT7StBVvPBZDXNyHIKwaeNeBFkgWFTS7WkhS7yqSUZPxnI9cg43DDkWR4/s400/SBGU4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686466961450868498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9OCuRuPT8xy-mE_gNlajzl6EPkI1dfrCMm5Frtq0I6DOnMMcm5v9aU68Jc-xclsMHGPM-cRab3Etx-MRC5sWeQHHCcpE2upKFGMuuWOMFGzC5wj9u4hsF47U_f619Xff_6_d5H_q_W0F/s1600/SBGU3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9OCuRuPT8xy-mE_gNlajzl6EPkI1dfrCMm5Frtq0I6DOnMMcm5v9aU68Jc-xclsMHGPM-cRab3Etx-MRC5sWeQHHCcpE2upKFGMuuWOMFGzC5wj9u4hsF47U_f619Xff_6_d5H_q_W0F/s400/SBGU3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686466955987138306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOCcC3i9hQlgUlue1YE1z8d1mIcIORBkWwNU7b0nEVDjMHBuzibs9mMX2Jj6eLCNA8NjPfNQmQkTDkWJU6tfRi_uHQGwvCfjWcBCzNcYL79qzRjpTPZ0YLHgSYLpliY3LszLV-dUApU2H/s1600/SBGU2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 376px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOCcC3i9hQlgUlue1YE1z8d1mIcIORBkWwNU7b0nEVDjMHBuzibs9mMX2Jj6eLCNA8NjPfNQmQkTDkWJU6tfRi_uHQGwvCfjWcBCzNcYL79qzRjpTPZ0YLHgSYLpliY3LszLV-dUApU2H/s400/SBGU2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686466948684668338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklimDSJGKDea_4wX4bH67wUOF5gWcaxHldYOOJ4Sq1-O5ItEIYfOOJGfREMK4JM6gLYiXYhaxr3sNyHZg2oFZ1qKu2o-PzdXTP6r8ZzsG6IQY8ukk_Oac53LOGK1eYxLXMWHjf1NtBuNJ/s1600/SBGU.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklimDSJGKDea_4wX4bH67wUOF5gWcaxHldYOOJ4Sq1-O5ItEIYfOOJGfREMK4JM6gLYiXYhaxr3sNyHZg2oFZ1qKu2o-PzdXTP6r8ZzsG6IQY8ukk_Oac53LOGK1eYxLXMWHjf1NtBuNJ/s400/SBGU.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686466942326047522" border="0" /></a>This was a long-awaited life bird for me, and will represent a 2nd state record if accepted by MBRC. I won't go to the mat on ID other than to say that every assessable field mark I checked appeared to be pretty classic for Slaty-backed Gull. In terms of age, it may not be quite fully adult, as evidenced by the dusky bill and obvious brownish cast to the primary coverts and primary bases. The tail of this bird conclusively shows no black (we had thought from Dan Duso's initial photos that it did have some black). So it could plausibly be either only a 4Y bird which has not quite reached full definitive plumage (like some Great Black-backeds often do), or a full adult (=after third year [ATY]). Pyle Guide II mentions that 4Y (of which less than 5% are assignable confidently to this category) is best identified by "outer primary coverts with more extensive blackish markings" (vs. slate gray or with "limited blackish on outer webs" in A4Y), and small p10 mirrow with no p9 mirror (vs. either just p10 or both p9 and p10 with "distinct white mirrors".) I don't think we have enough to confidently call this a 4Y, but would like to hear others' opinions. Here is today's eBird checklist:<br /><br />http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9341848<br /><br />Kudos to Dan Duso for finding this amazing record, Myles Willard and others for checking up on it, and getting the word out, and to Karl Overman for being sure we all knew about it.Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-12633420005250011152011-12-05T19:29:00.001-08:002011-12-05T20:39:26.887-08:00The joy of long-distance Thayer's Gull identficationOne of my easiest remaining Kent Co. ticks is Thayer's Gull. Problem is, the only location in our lovely county which has a gull concentration is the Kent Co. landfill. And the viewing at this location is about as inopportune as it gets for gull watchers. The closest vantage is about .35 miles from the dump site, or 567 m (~5.67 football fields):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Cvzmr8Rxi8O7TCzj34jU7EPmiZHQ9JW36R1OW1wVhZoHrcV8VmDGC2eTG9QRetAoRJZVGwN9eWjG8NvfEsjC8nXBahA0M-Pz2Ul8JNbyBR9VP_oGM44Te8kCClTN3KKKFtWQ2C99jo-Y/s1600/dump+map.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Cvzmr8Rxi8O7TCzj34jU7EPmiZHQ9JW36R1OW1wVhZoHrcV8VmDGC2eTG9QRetAoRJZVGwN9eWjG8NvfEsjC8nXBahA0M-Pz2Ul8JNbyBR9VP_oGM44Te8kCClTN3KKKFtWQ2C99jo-Y/s400/dump+map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682853503770794722" border="0" /></a>Thayer's Gull identification is a quagmire in and of itself, so trying to do it at this distance is doubly troublesome. Some basic background: Thayer's and Iceland Gulls clearly constitute a clade, but instead of fitting nicely into 2 bimodal categories which we can easily separate (as suggested by the names), they form a cline of variation from black-primaried birds (=Thayer's) in their western arctic breeding areas to white-primaried birds in the European arctic (=nominate Iceland [glaucoides]). The 'in between' birds in the eastern N. American arctic, are grayish-primaried and are called "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull. The challenge with this group is deciding which phenotypes to classify as pure Thayer's, which as pure Kumlien's Iceland, and which to classify as unknown. Some of the birds between Thayer's and Kumlien's Iceland are even referred to as hybrids/intergrades, though on what basis (and what such a moniker actually connotes: if the bird looked exactly like both its parents how is that a hybrid/intergrade?!?) I don't claim to know. So to get to my bird from today let's start here: a plate comparing the wingtip pattern of large adult gulls, from "Gulls of North America, Europe, and Asia" by Olsen and Larsson (2003). Birds 13-16 are given to show the range of variation of acceptable Thayer's from darkest above to palest below, while bird 17 defies identification (would genetics show this bird to classify easily as one or the other when there's a cline of variation? I personally doubt it, but am not a geneticist so someone please relieve me of my ignorance), and plate 18 shows the extreme dark example of Kumlien's Iceland:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBDri2ha7ovuW-3I9CnlsMsZCQFIWC7LbAPtNcaDEER8_6ySee9HHuhL7ZSVJyaCf5Uq_e9U5dm0vQu4KZ03cWEL2T6c3sPuunDHCMHw_qwULEfR2cShOAe9GNXN1q2T6NB9AHIAX7Ftw/s1600/THGU.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBDri2ha7ovuW-3I9CnlsMsZCQFIWC7LbAPtNcaDEER8_6ySee9HHuhL7ZSVJyaCf5Uq_e9U5dm0vQu4KZ03cWEL2T6c3sPuunDHCMHw_qwULEfR2cShOAe9GNXN1q2T6NB9AHIAX7Ftw/s400/THGU.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682853805528687554" border="0" /></a>Long story short: I observed 2 adult kumlieni/thayeri today that were close to bird 17, but never could get an extended study of either bird, nor photos. But I did <span style="font-style: italic;">attempt </span>to get video. I thought I had failed to capture my target, but in going through the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJH-I2nQTlM">video clip</a> , I was shocked to see that the bird actually did unwittingly enter my screen, totally unbeknownst to me at the time (watch the upper left corner between 1:32 and 1:46). This bird, seen well, was darker gray above than Herrings, with dark eye and bright pink legs, as well as diffuse neck and head streaking. But n order to study the wingtip pattern of this bird I have created the following screencaps from the original clip, which are higher resolution that what you'll get on the youtube video (analysis to follow):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPP0fAtftDlb5F4lg22xuVNBQhEB44z6sPjh6efGWLNtJiuiBvY6-awgoQmkKFO8s98tafiUZxVcsal1DeiJZewYhQvoJWePkPMJYM5nUzVUsv8zYz8zSlxNxGCJM0TJk65BIfrHV3reG/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPP0fAtftDlb5F4lg22xuVNBQhEB44z6sPjh6efGWLNtJiuiBvY6-awgoQmkKFO8s98tafiUZxVcsal1DeiJZewYhQvoJWePkPMJYM5nUzVUsv8zYz8zSlxNxGCJM0TJk65BIfrHV3reG/s400/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682853799668162194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k7-V8Qn4KCk-CofFGQwADn3Y-hIsRJkRrhnDegcZLY2Vqp4qxKjE6ZoaaFCS_VdQWvC_HHEszLzoQ6CoDg3wO6_Sv2QXQQMYewPBbyTtosjnYgSFv7wS0D7bLXb4BJBoq8-iMOuL9Anr/s1600/b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k7-V8Qn4KCk-CofFGQwADn3Y-hIsRJkRrhnDegcZLY2Vqp4qxKjE6ZoaaFCS_VdQWvC_HHEszLzoQ6CoDg3wO6_Sv2QXQQMYewPBbyTtosjnYgSFv7wS0D7bLXb4BJBoq8-iMOuL9Anr/s400/b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682853793070680242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i-bGFfifWDH3cnYKwT6aQOFVPj8eehuuKq9LCyHiIvNo_nqhzK8Fzwig1ZHAuN6gHrRXJS9qh7VkUIXds_nQ8VzItJjufisxSPvYUmTvbmmjw_TNyVp_-trV0TGgrPN7X2lTBAso9GLn/s1600/c.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i-bGFfifWDH3cnYKwT6aQOFVPj8eehuuKq9LCyHiIvNo_nqhzK8Fzwig1ZHAuN6gHrRXJS9qh7VkUIXds_nQ8VzItJjufisxSPvYUmTvbmmjw_TNyVp_-trV0TGgrPN7X2lTBAso9GLn/s400/c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682853793211524370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w_5JSdgUqCypsadTPqyZ83fQm6PZ1Mw53HFFpJ9jZKFhbZhsV7OluEoSBVEW_Y7URzsCUf5agVFC4hsuyiXEE-2tLZzw66Dlhm7BFu2BbRfRf8FLOL04bjxAAp9ObdxGfK0SAEJUB8rW/s1600/d.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w_5JSdgUqCypsadTPqyZ83fQm6PZ1Mw53HFFpJ9jZKFhbZhsV7OluEoSBVEW_Y7URzsCUf5agVFC4hsuyiXEE-2tLZzw66Dlhm7BFu2BbRfRf8FLOL04bjxAAp9ObdxGfK0SAEJUB8rW/s400/d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682853524151955666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIA6cRrVs9cqjNUXHWFrs_703FloxbPaTmB7yF5bKjzwAC-AhSTCLoQBZwBCoLIaPOH-GqDBlFg5jqJlQG0r49nHlDRqnRvOK0qNSd8AJ8xkKkuxIyYTKFtE2e7x_pIzvCZiGrBCWnxSW/s1600/e.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIA6cRrVs9cqjNUXHWFrs_703FloxbPaTmB7yF5bKjzwAC-AhSTCLoQBZwBCoLIaPOH-GqDBlFg5jqJlQG0r49nHlDRqnRvOK0qNSd8AJ8xkKkuxIyYTKFtE2e7x_pIzvCZiGrBCWnxSW/s400/e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682853519750588594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Cvzmr8Rxi8O7TCzj34jU7EPmiZHQ9JW36R1OW1wVhZoHrcV8VmDGC2eTG9QRetAoRJZVGwN9eWjG8NvfEsjC8nXBahA0M-Pz2Ul8JNbyBR9VP_oGM44Te8kCClTN3KKKFtWQ2C99jo-Y/s1600/dump+map.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziZsYsseHGzPCJU0KxjVxFp-07eSRfQHTBzrUzIase-rved5zvywVsPOr_EM2qfZNI-PV1slC4eAaN-ox-N1w_n3ZilsZa5R59l77LW14hUcU_kWu6jX5NHkyX9ggwnv48PVfZb0mDEa7/s1600/f.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziZsYsseHGzPCJU0KxjVxFp-07eSRfQHTBzrUzIase-rved5zvywVsPOr_EM2qfZNI-PV1slC4eAaN-ox-N1w_n3ZilsZa5R59l77LW14hUcU_kWu6jX5NHkyX9ggwnv48PVfZb0mDEa7/s400/f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682853513577717458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX3CKyAXzA9HOrZjkfsQ1roN292aPADA6SJNOk2e_vcWLWq4FWVyBHRo8F5ex-KWAG1ODwEhEi5frkQFoILOf_1to34d3rjlWM03HWRwZ0_ZGTqhmSo6WXAwem9D0YHwBGyCjgScgCI2i/s1600/g.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX3CKyAXzA9HOrZjkfsQ1roN292aPADA6SJNOk2e_vcWLWq4FWVyBHRo8F5ex-KWAG1ODwEhEi5frkQFoILOf_1to34d3rjlWM03HWRwZ0_ZGTqhmSo6WXAwem9D0YHwBGyCjgScgCI2i/s400/g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682853509657139266" border="0" /></a>First off, the bird clearly applies to either bird 16 or bird 17 in Olsen and Larsson. How to decipher which? Well, the book doesn't really say in concrete terms. The caption to bird 16 reads: "Outer wing appears streaked blackish. Note black extension on outer webs of p9-p10, emphasizing white mirrors. Shows blackish markings as far as p5. Upperwing darker gray than in kumlieni." The caption for bird 17 says: "This example could represent minimal dark streaking in thayeri, with no dark markings on p5, or maximal dark streaking in kumlieni." How's that for hedging! Let's analyze this bird's outer primaries in more detail. I went into Photoshop and labelled each primary tip from the 2 best screencaps:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmIoex4E63iHyUN4MoQbamoNP_rqCDJ6wxUsgIOzNTBwb3zVfq3wvkIwAoCaGgudNKoT5_pdXsVZyVG_wtZdPR49Y-0tYKYKrOuVWkePZUZh_5Dfk7pvoPVjQp2FWczNm1EMF6GIygwbN/s1600/wingtip1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmIoex4E63iHyUN4MoQbamoNP_rqCDJ6wxUsgIOzNTBwb3zVfq3wvkIwAoCaGgudNKoT5_pdXsVZyVG_wtZdPR49Y-0tYKYKrOuVWkePZUZh_5Dfk7pvoPVjQp2FWczNm1EMF6GIygwbN/s400/wingtip1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682860342782197778" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NTadBSzruOk4frXFoUQbvbxig559DI8EzQ5x-S5oqlhlMGsHk8t4Nn6o9KzF4vaT0ac0LHWCKh2HJ05jQ6Zazbf9l3Ct4_SfEBObAir_feHqgl4hgBtvAjaJyjJXnUEN3SA2Kjc1ekGB/s1600/wingtip2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NTadBSzruOk4frXFoUQbvbxig559DI8EzQ5x-S5oqlhlMGsHk8t4Nn6o9KzF4vaT0ac0LHWCKh2HJ05jQ6Zazbf9l3Ct4_SfEBObAir_feHqgl4hgBtvAjaJyjJXnUEN3SA2Kjc1ekGB/s400/wingtip2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682860342062117234" border="0" /></a> It does appear that my bird lacks any markings on p5 (assuming I've labelled the feathers correctly), and that it lacks the black terminal markings on p10 shown on bird 16. The outer web of p9 pretty clearly lacks black in the area of the mirror, but so do both birds 16 and 17. The only other field mark I can garner from the plate would be the color of the pigmentation on these feathers: blacker on bird16 and slate gray on bird 17. I am not sure the answer to this one (nor the value it has as a definitive field mark!).<br /><br />So, in the end, as so often happens, I think this is a bird we need to let go, as much as I would like to have a Thayer's Gull for Kent County. I left this and the other adult like it as Thayer's/Iceland Gulls on my <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9282145">eBird checklist</a>. Birds like this may or may not "qualify," even with genetic data, as either species. But even if it did, we'd be hard-pressed to do so when its phenotype is so close to bird 17. Or perhaps we humans would do better to classify all birds in this clade as Thayland Gulls or Iceyeri Gulls? Alternative opinions here are welcome, of course (comment box below).<br /><br />Fortunately for me, with upwards of <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9282145">1,200 gulls present of late</a>, as well as the influx of Thayer's in the western Great Lakes:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRjCzE5ETFhoZ4N9A80oPInxf8vo0ifBCDvCe4vAlPLiWjFPfLq4LPOkj7BtLD-R1rmhJC_7fuu8nrkeQBefQQL2Zn5sIPrddY8T0FSAz53ONXp7JFcF3w9rDEwXraNaFYWacDEEagdw1/s1600/MAP.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRjCzE5ETFhoZ4N9A80oPInxf8vo0ifBCDvCe4vAlPLiWjFPfLq4LPOkj7BtLD-R1rmhJC_7fuu8nrkeQBefQQL2Zn5sIPrddY8T0FSAz53ONXp7JFcF3w9rDEwXraNaFYWacDEEagdw1/s400/MAP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682863295694104994" border="0" /></a> I think the chances for finding a bird more like birds 13-15 (or heck, even a 1st or 2nd cycle bird) will be pretty good in the coming weeks. Let's hope that any such bird poses as well as this one did!Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-89373096559963605522011-12-03T09:55:00.000-08:002011-12-03T10:11:17.053-08:00Black Scoters!Left the house around 10:30AM to begin checking local lakes for Black Scoter (one of my most wanted Kent Co. ticks in the waterfowl category). But since I live in Montcalm, I've made a habit of checking my local Montcalm large lake: Whitefish Lake daily, and this morning was no exception. First duck I saw was a White-winged Scoter (after an absence of 2 days since seeing 1 and possibly 2 of these 3 days ago (see <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9227889">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9227889</a>). I quickly realized there weren't a lot of ducks present due to the duck hunters chasing them around. But a scan to the south revealed a single, white-cheeked duck, in with 3 Common Goldeneyes, which was larger than them. Body size ruled out the last contender: Ruddy Duck, and sure enough, I had found my target bird within 10 minutes of leaving the house. Here is the checklist, with photos of both scoters: <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9260032">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9260032</a> . For those looking to chase here is the map with access points and approximate locations of the scoters as of 11AM.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfK1e2xYLOaW1l_k71C-M5F2afUO8Vr2nUzFOnS3K_0OrQNcy1KkldSUor9enMA0tJejC5uYy0dDoQIuw2DZ93EdzrjydJajLL4jPlhyVGjz5fHO6_0z27gCLs3Q-JH8eFQgEOgpKGpWP/s1600/WhitefishLakemap.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfK1e2xYLOaW1l_k71C-M5F2afUO8Vr2nUzFOnS3K_0OrQNcy1KkldSUor9enMA0tJejC5uYy0dDoQIuw2DZ93EdzrjydJajLL4jPlhyVGjz5fHO6_0z27gCLs3Q-JH8eFQgEOgpKGpWP/s400/WhitefishLakemap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681964203814021746" border="0" /></a>All of this made me believe I had a good shot of finding Black Scoter in Kent as well: there must have been an influx last night as these birds were not present the past 2 days and the dreary, rainy weather is good at 'knocking down' migrants. But I planned on having to reach Kent Co.'s larger lakes, such as Lincoln Lake and Wabasis Lake in order to maximize my chances for this rare sea duck. But astonishingly, only 1.5 miles away I found ANOTHER Black Scoter on a much smaller lake: Sand Lake. Sand Lake is bisected by the Kent/Montcalm Co. line, and almost all of the time the Aythya flock (primarily Ring-necked Ducks) are on the north shore of the lake, well within Montcalm. At first this is indeed where the scoter was, but it quickly flew south, and swum to within 50-60 feet of the Kent shore! Even the Ring-necked Ducks rarely if ever do this, so my luck was out of control today. (side note: had this not happened I was prepared to grab my kayak and attempt to push the bird into Kent, fortunately I didn't have to do this). This map shows the location of the county line, as well as where I saw the Black Scoter. I took <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJZDBk2lfgo">this video clip</a> to show conclusively that the bird was in Kent Co., from the locations labelled on the map (note the peninsula which will be visible in the background of the video clip):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQxc791_ayPi3WrH6pnghCTGJ9oLhoSEH_E2O4riPMiWcnqmd-LiUJb4ajy_-lnlTDR84d848DYIMBk4lPAExPmCufCqthyzclG_RakwrSnHbbqNaBB4q4cFcmsG3osOic5n96e9nPF7p/s1600/BLSC+map.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQxc791_ayPi3WrH6pnghCTGJ9oLhoSEH_E2O4riPMiWcnqmd-LiUJb4ajy_-lnlTDR84d848DYIMBk4lPAExPmCufCqthyzclG_RakwrSnHbbqNaBB4q4cFcmsG3osOic5n96e9nPF7p/s400/BLSC+map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681964200898455778" border="0" /></a>Here is the Kent Co. checklist with photo: <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9260054">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9260054</a><br />and a better video clip for ID purposes: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn3bMD4cyxI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn3bMD4cyxI</a><br /><br />What a day! Heading back out to check Lincoln Lake as we speak, who knows what I'll find on a day like this.Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-55819443458764144622011-10-26T10:51:00.000-07:002011-10-26T11:07:33.397-07:00Another county tickNot sure why birding is this way, but like shooting a basketball or playing a slot machine, the hits often come in bursts. (Is this not the true definition of mathematical chaos?). But after a several month drought of new county birds from May through October, I have now hit upon my 2nd county tick in 10 days. This time, I was out checking the ag fields of far NE Kent Co. for American Golden-Plover habitat, when I came upon a field freshly covered in manure and containing 6-10 inch high corn stubble. This field was absolutely awash in the standard open country species such as American Pipit, Killdeer, and Horned Lark. Mixed in were smaller #s of Snow Bunting and Lapland Longspur, and it really felt like an overall good spot for American Golden-Plover. But amongst the 20 or so Canada Geese were 5 swans. Now, swans in a muddy ag field are, in my experience, guaranteed to be Tundra Swans. And we have just now begun to enter the migration period for this species in Kent Co. So I assumed the birds would be so. But upon my first glances I noticed they were in fact a family group of Trumpeter Swans (!), 2 adults and 3 juveniles. This is the first observation of this species away from water and perched on the ground that I have ever made. Realizing the strangeness of the sighting I took extra steps to photograph and videotape the birds, and here they are:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ2V0TqOb6rfsDfQErGvj9pEmTu1CxC3YDXjJ7pgxmkaQghtpbUtvRTTpM4OaYgBILPTQ_QsE8E5WbHFENzy_Ec_S2TM066P5hsFs4qn2b0l2Pjs8_rh5c5p2dWpJMwnKLgGnU7k-TWMr/s1600/trus1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ2V0TqOb6rfsDfQErGvj9pEmTu1CxC3YDXjJ7pgxmkaQghtpbUtvRTTpM4OaYgBILPTQ_QsE8E5WbHFENzy_Ec_S2TM066P5hsFs4qn2b0l2Pjs8_rh5c5p2dWpJMwnKLgGnU7k-TWMr/s400/trus1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667860664366887650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHd1VmAIBuA75gvr57nF8ukOoQPNkXCbEyu8I1KlmaHJmJT5gXpuXcYB6ySbYH-B2aVJMCUHBB-dz0d6sxA0cie9rAzIuXyHn4Qxq1p_kMl8NaGF2aEhkuuVGBYpfJPVOW_J9flDd1b7b/s1600/trus2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHd1VmAIBuA75gvr57nF8ukOoQPNkXCbEyu8I1KlmaHJmJT5gXpuXcYB6ySbYH-B2aVJMCUHBB-dz0d6sxA0cie9rAzIuXyHn4Qxq1p_kMl8NaGF2aEhkuuVGBYpfJPVOW_J9flDd1b7b/s400/trus2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667860663881196850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU85Yb4YO7SblG9144gTU4j70kZekAD5KYR8vOvT3omv2Lg0nWs3a5kzcFea6V8HzFY8uVK0ZbRyDtFEmVl9NlceqgC16HLwvSdAyit1XWkuCp02aydIpiEmERC-SSwIUXPH7OdPJFvPZF/s1600/trus3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU85Yb4YO7SblG9144gTU4j70kZekAD5KYR8vOvT3omv2Lg0nWs3a5kzcFea6V8HzFY8uVK0ZbRyDtFEmVl9NlceqgC16HLwvSdAyit1XWkuCp02aydIpiEmERC-SSwIUXPH7OdPJFvPZF/s400/trus3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667860657399691762" border="0" /></a><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IomqrIQga3E?hl=en&fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-15317666044950510852011-10-18T08:52:00.000-07:002011-10-18T08:59:59.596-07:00A good Kent Co tick, and not the age class I expectedGot a call from J Lau (aka Jonathan Lautenbach) yesterday morning which I knew was going to be a rare bird. Indeed, he reported 2 White-rumped Sandpipers at Millenium Park. This is a long-awaited county tick for me, so I shot down and was fortunate to find the birds with his help. First the location:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZHR08UO-CZ8b8lJCM2tLMmJ4JUcoZhU337s8H8eDkyTdaoXS1-oKAEZTKStbK2mT3dbYHgvfJKm1Qhc_IgQDYDLJl756Nnx-zweRhCNj9SWY6MIQbDzquDTh4b6QZOEmwK9NkrHUNaH3/s1600/wrsa6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZHR08UO-CZ8b8lJCM2tLMmJ4JUcoZhU337s8H8eDkyTdaoXS1-oKAEZTKStbK2mT3dbYHgvfJKm1Qhc_IgQDYDLJl756Nnx-zweRhCNj9SWY6MIQbDzquDTh4b6QZOEmwK9NkrHUNaH3/s400/wrsa6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664860958298612754" border="0" /></a><br />The birds frequented these 3 locations throughout our visit.<br />Here are the best photos I could manage of them:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJUHeSjy-XJQ77y9HD0n6PMjoAevCnzIDuscIKdeWGpF0QYULo7J1ll_pNlE2RCchYUQRZ9FLL8o1EUY6GVaGQaJ9FT-bEuNzZ_zu0uYAkQ7GzD9QsR6t0UR1EbKv_70AIZJFiZ0qG7TC/s1600/wrsa2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJUHeSjy-XJQ77y9HD0n6PMjoAevCnzIDuscIKdeWGpF0QYULo7J1ll_pNlE2RCchYUQRZ9FLL8o1EUY6GVaGQaJ9FT-bEuNzZ_zu0uYAkQ7GzD9QsR6t0UR1EbKv_70AIZJFiZ0qG7TC/s400/wrsa2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664861068984828866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS59pErd9uONMBdSPrUZOn5nvw4pj97XIL_ATEuyAbobPoFvC9fX4Cf7UbFEFEuKDPzy6vhD9CiYtWGFOYfM6TfcmGYyGlSvMUMtu7K9lB7DopHTFcEKdCluBMF-NZpgdc7FGSFbYni1bk/s1600/wrsa1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS59pErd9uONMBdSPrUZOn5nvw4pj97XIL_ATEuyAbobPoFvC9fX4Cf7UbFEFEuKDPzy6vhD9CiYtWGFOYfM6TfcmGYyGlSvMUMtu7K9lB7DopHTFcEKdCluBMF-NZpgdc7FGSFbYni1bk/s400/wrsa1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664861062114327458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6615eVxre9JxE7cWQmyZPIQXR65TLed0UlVcex5S4pEcifCvewAK7s08P_8MuVheB4gjnXl0A2y3RCA9H6QTdS3itrbvtsHoOyXdsbXAFlAbkyOy9W6smp2I_fOsUw28ZPQKeqinH65UA/s1600/wrsa3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6615eVxre9JxE7cWQmyZPIQXR65TLed0UlVcex5S4pEcifCvewAK7s08P_8MuVheB4gjnXl0A2y3RCA9H6QTdS3itrbvtsHoOyXdsbXAFlAbkyOy9W6smp2I_fOsUw28ZPQKeqinH65UA/s400/wrsa3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664860975023269778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNSMu0yz0KAit6_iEZUImRMdNz_FbZAxhiHbJIi3SzdF7hmEwpI4uowTpZHIiPOIvmqv_yWO2xBaH_7JZHF_fWyQ829vIws2BoDdW5f0xVGPdtDsFa7VeGp2-32FC6LMbwtlqlq7CHhEt/s1600/wrsa4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNSMu0yz0KAit6_iEZUImRMdNz_FbZAxhiHbJIi3SzdF7hmEwpI4uowTpZHIiPOIvmqv_yWO2xBaH_7JZHF_fWyQ829vIws2BoDdW5f0xVGPdtDsFa7VeGp2-32FC6LMbwtlqlq7CHhEt/s400/wrsa4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664860976410614818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2T-Luw-9WGwmnenAD1MXKodT0Q7ExiPqZqi3u9BrgxFUnJDoyQC9NPt-l3TDPO9-WqTVkhC0xnaMYAmNZ9sjam_p3_Xiq7P3c1vp6gxybgmKvBfodQrsVx4yXSqWeDfNFVgmyEAt30zZ/s1600/wrsa5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2T-Luw-9WGwmnenAD1MXKodT0Q7ExiPqZqi3u9BrgxFUnJDoyQC9NPt-l3TDPO9-WqTVkhC0xnaMYAmNZ9sjam_p3_Xiq7P3c1vp6gxybgmKvBfodQrsVx4yXSqWeDfNFVgmyEAt30zZ/s400/wrsa5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664860958535686274" border="0" /></a>The big issue of course is not ID, but age. At this late date, i assumed theses birds would be automatic juveniles. However, I was struck by the lack of obvious juvenal markings on the tertials and wing coverts. Furthermore, when I got close looks, I realized that the terts and especially the wing coverts were heavily abraded. Juvenile White-rumpeds begin the preformative molt in November (Pyle Guide Part II), and even if they hadn't replaced their juvenal tertials and wing coverts by now they would be much much fresher and less abraded than those of this bird. Here is an example of a young bird from 19 Nov 2009 at Muskegon Wastewater. Note the juvenal patterning and broad, rounded edges (unabraded) of the already 5 month old juvenal terts and wing coverts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfPjthIyvKIPxz5mo31XrPMfwxnNAoMgU6tqOUaxL6m66D4v409JxGnqL2ljaZzs3TIVgL24g974NJQlmXoC5qAKxUtHVYvUsJZGqZArw3fYCkJk001BNae1yQgNHjMtRHj2-mDywGkh_/s1600/wrsajuv19Nov.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfPjthIyvKIPxz5mo31XrPMfwxnNAoMgU6tqOUaxL6m66D4v409JxGnqL2ljaZzs3TIVgL24g974NJQlmXoC5qAKxUtHVYvUsJZGqZArw3fYCkJk001BNae1yQgNHjMtRHj2-mDywGkh_/s400/wrsajuv19Nov.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664860957647025730" border="0" /></a>So, I believe these two birds have to be adults. I would love to know when is "too late" for this age class at such a northerly latitude. I would expect adults to clear out of Michigan by mid September at the latest, but perhaps I need to rewrite my expectations. Thoughts on ageing and molt timing would be appreciated.<br /><br />Kent co. tick 238! Looking forward to moving into the 240s sometime soon...Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-76512369193066209732011-09-28T08:23:00.000-07:002011-09-28T09:34:16.484-07:00Sandpiper funSo I received a call and the following screen captures from Randy last night, who was at Millenium Park looking at a sandpiper he thought might be a Sanderling. But he was not sure whether it couldn't be a Semipalmated Sandpiper, and asked to me help him work through the ID before announcing the bird to anyone (good gut instinct, man!). (Sidenote: Sanderling is a much-sought-after county tick for all of us Kent Co. listers as they don't often land away from the Great Lakes shores.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0xR9luYTqtEXw6zXyrpjEiWtSUyztll2aTmSofFq2lJT5_5AVd7zHevhPkaSvCqG63uWDnSonCQGv6YCEFtkNTnAWAcsNZLBDLwHPyyiomijKkRtJNHI2n2SY6ewnBohFpZ4bqetATrk/s1600/2011-09-27+18.18.57.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0xR9luYTqtEXw6zXyrpjEiWtSUyztll2aTmSofFq2lJT5_5AVd7zHevhPkaSvCqG63uWDnSonCQGv6YCEFtkNTnAWAcsNZLBDLwHPyyiomijKkRtJNHI2n2SY6ewnBohFpZ4bqetATrk/s400/2011-09-27+18.18.57.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657432457401082866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaaaIrEvjJ0-5C4pOewlyvzK3ZFf7rQ_5v-x33QARaY6qJjmYno40wGzhFdRlAXF8Q9Q2es-hAMNPHqNZuF344o5N3xgxKCfVRQ7UKYbm8WQ4jECX3XLvQSg9SUfT6rV3fY8Ady5D5ExI/s1600/2011-09-27+18.05.11%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaaaIrEvjJ0-5C4pOewlyvzK3ZFf7rQ_5v-x33QARaY6qJjmYno40wGzhFdRlAXF8Q9Q2es-hAMNPHqNZuF344o5N3xgxKCfVRQ7UKYbm8WQ4jECX3XLvQSg9SUfT6rV3fY8Ady5D5ExI/s400/2011-09-27+18.05.11%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657432447113614082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zG3CHfw7CAaQAb2ujUWWdWiYr7FwwTqlAL9nG0EheqsYHh-UGgLUerBRf8PmiTo3BdA9LSd36tx75x7ihB-immIQCWAOGqOP1_Ei9snmpt37YRT627YC7HdOgC0L25RibE5VMJYvioDJ/s1600/2011-09-27+18.16.09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zG3CHfw7CAaQAb2ujUWWdWiYr7FwwTqlAL9nG0EheqsYHh-UGgLUerBRf8PmiTo3BdA9LSd36tx75x7ihB-immIQCWAOGqOP1_Ei9snmpt37YRT627YC7HdOgC0L25RibE5VMJYvioDJ/s400/2011-09-27+18.16.09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657432442208746882" border="0" /></a>My gut reaction when seeing these was that it was probably a Semi, but I had enough doubt given the strongly contrasting face pattern, attenuated look to the rear end, and the suggestion that the bill shape was being skewed to look skinny by some photographic artifact (both SAND and SESA have relatively blunt-tipped beaks so the photo couldn't be taken at face value), that I decided to check it out. Plus I received opinions from 2 birders that they felt the bird was probably a SAND based on what they saw in the photos. I did not find the bird at dusk last night, but did have it at the same location this morning at about 7:45AM. Upon my first scope view in the rainy, gloomy weather, I felt it looked like a pretty clearcut Sanderling, based primarily on the overall black and white patterning, frosty upperparts, and overall shape and jizz. So I made the phone calls to let everyone know (woops). But quickly upon getting better looks after the rain subsided and the light came up, I was troubled by the bird's size (too small) and the lack of an obvious wingstripe. So I checked the primary projection (primaries beyond tail substantially in SAND, even with tail in SESA) and the bird clearly showed a long projection, at least 1/4 to 1/2 inch, probably on the longer end of that range, as evidenced by these 2 photos:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIG4O5vPU11yPkCCLnbyfIdykCw3kMu1bHyop31B-92JKrBxnuDjgKJZ_83XlmMCNWH0_J-MBlg2NtSxgjaaHdg7xkGaKnadHz0a0X7ZY_MWfooCpTuWHWAg16rVF1RAfYfKkXeE5xpyt/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIG4O5vPU11yPkCCLnbyfIdykCw3kMu1bHyop31B-92JKrBxnuDjgKJZ_83XlmMCNWH0_J-MBlg2NtSxgjaaHdg7xkGaKnadHz0a0X7ZY_MWfooCpTuWHWAg16rVF1RAfYfKkXeE5xpyt/s400/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657431609346959330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBNOX3Sn-LxibnLe0_vG0plO9hIuN-86-rp9j-kBE_niyJ29tQdm9XHDP2Xj1h4sL8FDpe0MKLnFig1dwtHddIAw9LJa_46DdeDfINTDxis-gleO5Ya4HCjCmXi-QxeL0O9qcNmiO_aHM/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBNOX3Sn-LxibnLe0_vG0plO9hIuN-86-rp9j-kBE_niyJ29tQdm9XHDP2Xj1h4sL8FDpe0MKLnFig1dwtHddIAw9LJa_46DdeDfINTDxis-gleO5Ya4HCjCmXi-QxeL0O9qcNmiO_aHM/s400/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657431599655827154" border="0" /></a>This primary projection was apparent at all angles, and was symmetrical. I realized that <a href="http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Mail/ID_FRONTIERS/1011470">some Semipalmateds</a> (apparently females) do show a slight projection here, but this was so substantial that I felt it strongly favored Sanderling. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyalbatross/3782733469/">Here </a>is an example of the primary projection I am used to on normal SESAs. The Millenium Park bird has more projection than I've seen on SESA personally. But again, several things seemed at odds with this putative ID: the bird's upperparts seemed strange as SAND typically shows strong spotting along the mantle fringes, not just a pale fringe as in SESA. And a final nail in the coffin for SAND was that the bird clearly displayed hind toes (!), something which took me a while to document clearly:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-K11Cj0yElNJGxey_dMVxGd349JNDRVX6GT9UxnwpVNWgt1zs7pFLVoHrTLX092Tt0vHZqlAVSIOHTJD5NY3Y2MLCHtO5v2z9OLGwNOGqQDcP4fcmiEQcU4bbTXZnJWdarj_5S3IjnR4_/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-K11Cj0yElNJGxey_dMVxGd349JNDRVX6GT9UxnwpVNWgt1zs7pFLVoHrTLX092Tt0vHZqlAVSIOHTJD5NY3Y2MLCHtO5v2z9OLGwNOGqQDcP4fcmiEQcU4bbTXZnJWdarj_5S3IjnR4_/s400/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657431609146118130" border="0" /></a>A final mark I wanted to check out was the wingstripe, which thanks to my new DSLR setup I was able to capture as it took flight. I guess the stripe looks pretty typical for a SESA, confirming my suspicion that the wingstripe was too dull for SAND.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkoambb0Z_qVaQbd2nHFaBuTPVVjpI2utgz8Rjeuo05T3pgdfBgI2ahiSPIU8M6BhLw6i1BmofOLU9MLIQqtQzMCXxmR1yVVAzcntXv-voQT-StrRAQBLQK9z6a7-W2Y1MGIe5QEBiyVY/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkoambb0Z_qVaQbd2nHFaBuTPVVjpI2utgz8Rjeuo05T3pgdfBgI2ahiSPIU8M6BhLw6i1BmofOLU9MLIQqtQzMCXxmR1yVVAzcntXv-voQT-StrRAQBLQK9z6a7-W2Y1MGIe5QEBiyVY/s400/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657432086287022450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrCFO8zbY-5XxEXwOhNo5Skcyoah92W7ZFyl-y1VZiU8w5y7jPblRANxstcX2jBgVLnpCf39hpDp6kF875_SfkWwCSLsdzghhGWhRtECVNHSJ1vn9yhON_a0BjX1m-NGTSg-9rUhbyhLA/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrCFO8zbY-5XxEXwOhNo5Skcyoah92W7ZFyl-y1VZiU8w5y7jPblRANxstcX2jBgVLnpCf39hpDp6kF875_SfkWwCSLsdzghhGWhRtECVNHSJ1vn9yhON_a0BjX1m-NGTSg-9rUhbyhLA/s400/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657432090638838690" border="0" /></a>At this point I made all of the phone calls again (in reverse order) to recant my ID. All in all the bird seems OK for a juvenile SESA, though on the dark/contrasty side, and with longer primaries (both beyond the tertials and beyond the tail tip) than any other SESA I've personally seen. I do not know if this is in the normal variation for the species (if so I need to expand my definition) or whether some additional explanation would be necessary (extra primary? [something known from godwits in the literature], hybridism, etc.). This bird, if a pure SESA, would extend the <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?step=saveChoices&getLocations=counties&parentState=US-MI&bMonth=01&bYear=1900&eMonth=12&eYear=2011&reportType=location&counties=US-MI-081&continue.x=36&continue.y=1&continue=Continue">Kent Co. eBird bar chart</a> a week father into the fall than it currently goes. Apologies to Randy who has had yet another self-found county tick squandered away (ROGO being the other): keep trying man, one of them will stick! A final parting shot:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HV1EClBGQjPcYINRhxJDFw6kC77AWSf5MvKld6Ud_kmnQsAEypzvEvRJlzKxOvyvBuhFN_UHw0hLSmAqQEbE2GJfaSIo7xKa8CJtMkSakTopz_CInTTOzug6Y8nz_bKGR5krKsl_i4ji/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HV1EClBGQjPcYINRhxJDFw6kC77AWSf5MvKld6Ud_kmnQsAEypzvEvRJlzKxOvyvBuhFN_UHw0hLSmAqQEbE2GJfaSIo7xKa8CJtMkSakTopz_CInTTOzug6Y8nz_bKGR5krKsl_i4ji/s400/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657431588513853650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPCcj47iYxDodlQ_tRtT_rU5GX6DYxpnocbz2nSFgVJsUL0V-56OkzgkycOyz3RLJpxJvzSn0RnSx6p82la1_KK_0VeiOTquBeev3ElPPEMwIMPMjsuatKru0GwK3hEluOiuKOfSNETQz/s1600/5.jpg"><br /></a>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744300177774222529.post-2166552625146919272011-09-27T14:55:00.001-07:002011-09-27T15:06:37.101-07:00An updateI figured it was high time for an update since I've been out of it for so long. Things are beginning to settle down which should make regular posting easier.<br /><br />First dibs goes to the 2 juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers Neil Gilbert found at Caledonia Sewage on September 13. I was unable to chase and assume I had missed them, but they were still there on the 26th (quite a layover!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjIy_6Yxx7NsfdzESZ3zI48HrL-Hgz8RfGB4RW4eNYa-yvl_7N6mxNdpRgwgU90-BzbybwrFWUQ7aFRP9eOYx1Y0E5rJdL9xbH0NIhwSUn_C52bJ-xHtahUmCC3uCBeJARp5_ZvS996Av/s1600/A.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjIy_6Yxx7NsfdzESZ3zI48HrL-Hgz8RfGB4RW4eNYa-yvl_7N6mxNdpRgwgU90-BzbybwrFWUQ7aFRP9eOYx1Y0E5rJdL9xbH0NIhwSUn_C52bJ-xHtahUmCC3uCBeJARp5_ZvS996Av/s400/A.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657161720211650130" border="0" /></a><br />Back a ways, on 12 September I made a rare journey to Huff Park and was treated, as we often are late in summer, to both Sedge and Marsh Wrens side by side along the boardwalk. The Sedge Wren was actually singing his head off, despite the cattail/loosestrife habitat.<br /><br />Marsh Wren:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK7SilP1QWt5OFF3dhqBs3oF-HJ-p5h68ozgAW14z-gKS84XmpTCesyUBalxaUg_jAtLNQs1-abZKqhhZjFV73FKL8KLb_gAyBV2X42OJQ3USA_87hQd5q6YFpYfmnY-9-ojgbqsfMo07/s1600/c.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK7SilP1QWt5OFF3dhqBs3oF-HJ-p5h68ozgAW14z-gKS84XmpTCesyUBalxaUg_jAtLNQs1-abZKqhhZjFV73FKL8KLb_gAyBV2X42OJQ3USA_87hQd5q6YFpYfmnY-9-ojgbqsfMo07/s400/c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657161726419640466" border="0" /></a>Sedge Wren:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3u_bNzmWfHqtgg1DXWi6BuVD8lVLXUN1vEmrtXKWnIqrhbzyR4WVkB4z9hMSFW5fnVw6rjabvSPoP4X3V1a6hfFqVz3rLsHI0-18MhKDwbGjdFgB6NBZuqHR7BTgUWReR_fT-b1KY9fK/s1600/d.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3u_bNzmWfHqtgg1DXWi6BuVD8lVLXUN1vEmrtXKWnIqrhbzyR4WVkB4z9hMSFW5fnVw6rjabvSPoP4X3V1a6hfFqVz3rLsHI0-18MhKDwbGjdFgB6NBZuqHR7BTgUWReR_fT-b1KY9fK/s400/d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657161732843371570" border="0" /></a>Caleb Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661340389049835641noreply@blogger.com0