Pectoral Sandpiper Upper Lisle Merrill Creek Rd Overlook Yesterday afternoon 4/9/21

[david nicosia]

All, 

I was specifically checking for shorebirds yesterday with the hopes of getting our FOY yellowlegs, spotted sandpiper and maybe even a DUNLIN which is fairly common in spring in Broome. I checked River Rd mudflats, mudflats by bridge Upper Lisle, the small shoreline area at Dorchester and then finally Merrill Creek overlook which has some mudflat areas. At first I had a KILLDEER which are great birds and enjoyable to watch. Then I locked on a spring adult breeding plumage PECTORAL SANDPIPER! This bird was foraging on the mudflat a bit farther out than the one that is close to the parking area. This species can be fairly common in the fall but are much rarer in the spring at least in Broome County. This bird has a nice mottled black patterning in the upper chest area with a stark demarcation to white lower chest/belly area. It also had yellowish at the base of the bill and is larger than our peep species..i.e  semipalmated sandpiper and least sandpiper specifically. Many folks can confuse larger least sandpipers for pectoral sandpipers. Always look for that yellowish base of bill and the more upright posture of the bird. LEAST SANDPIPERS don't usually arrive until around May 1 or so too. Pectoral sandpipers are actually a fairly early spring migrant so they would be expected around now vs least sandpipers. Semipalmated sandpipers are primarily mid to late May and even early June.   

I have attached my ebird report which has some photos of the pectoral sandpiper. 

https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S85172914

Dave