Possible Piping Plovers - Lake Cheraw, Otero County

[BirdNerd's Email]

Had a chance to get down to Lake Cheraw on Sunday and saw the Snowy Plovers and their hatched chicks. The surprise was 2 plovers that looked decidedly like piping plovers based on their yellowish legs, similar yellowish color at the base of their bills, and strong incomplete black breast band. The snowy's had dark legs and bills with more of a dark neck streak on males . The suspected Piping Plovers appeared to favor the drier, sandier areas while the Snowy's were moving all over the place. I couldn't discern vocals from any the birds.

I have no experience with either plover but I am finding little in the way of other possibilities for the 2 suspected piping plovers. If anyone has other possibilities I could consider or experience that would help me in confirming the ID feel free to send me a reply.

Regards,

Mark Minner-Lee
Superior, CO

Sent from my iPad