[MASSBIRD] Hybrid Calidrid Sandy Point aka Mystery Sandpiper and Blue Grosbeak at the Spencer Pierce Little Farm ( or so I think)

[Suzanne Sullivan]

Dear Massbirders,

I love mysteries and the Sandpiper in question at Sandy Point is
certainly one. It is my opinion after studying my photos and Steve
Arena's from last year ( Thanks for posting the link Liam) that this
is the same bird. In fact in the field I started to suspect such. Of
course when first seen from a distant my first heart stopping reaction
was Sharp-tailed, but when it flew in close and we saw the black legs
that went right out the window.....back to Steve's bird, The chevrons
and streaks seem to match perfectly, on the left sided shots ( Steve
does not have any right sided shots).There are three strong marks near
tail, then 3 lighter streaks more up the flank. The head fits almost
perfectly like the red cap!, the dark reddish lores, nice supercilium,
and the dark reddish ear spot. One thing I have that we didn't have
before is a flight shot! And to me, and I am no way an expert, I have
never seen a sharp-tailed sandpiper and I can't seem to find any
flight shots, but the tail according to Nat Geo field guide looks
closest to sharp-tailed, check out the dark chevrons at base of tail.
So maybe the DunlinXWhite-rump should be re-considered? And why if
this was either Dunlin or White-rump would it be sooooo red at this
time of year? IN one of the photos there is an adult White-rump next
to it. A Sharp-tailed could be though right?
My photos here - http://www.pbase.com/suzsull/image/152342590,
http://www.pbase.com/suzsull/image/152342589 ,
http://www.pbase.com/suzsull/image/152342588
http://www.pbase.com/suzsull/image/152342582
http://www.pbase.com/suzsull/image/152342639

Here are some photos of the Blue Grosbeak ( I think) , judging by
yellow gape first year, there were a bunch of confusing bunting like
birds at the farm I never got past the boardwalk, I parked at the
airport.

http://www.pbase.com/suzsull/image/152342572
and
http://www.pbase.com/suzsull/image/152342525
Oh and when driving down rt one this a.m. a dark morph hawk blasted
over the road. I know sounds crazy, it was all dark, chocolate brown,
with whitish underside ot flight feathers. It was close well seen even
though it was brief. It was about 3/4 up from Linebrook Road traveling
south. I have no idea what it could be. It think where it flew into
the woods is part of Willowdale but not sure. What a crazy day!

Boy this bird id stuff is exhausting........
Suzanne Sullivan
Wilmington MA
swam...@gmail.com

[liam waters]

I, too, was wondering why it was still so red this late in the season. I also can't remember why Dunlin x Sharp-tailed was ruled out, but I thought it definitely was. A quick google search turned up a few other very similar looking birds (although none so red). 

• Two birds from south beach in '08 http://www.capecodbirds.org/HybridCalidris/HybridCalidris0608.htm
  
• One in Florida http://www.oceanwanderers.com/WayneRichardson.Sandpiper.html
  
• One in Missouri (lousy photos but you get the idea) http://www.flickr.com/photos/36294041@N03/sets/72157626659201475/with/5749523176/
• And one in the good old UK (even worse photos) http://wrightswanderings.blogspot.com/2012/08/presumed-white-rumped-sandpiper-x.html
  

All these people seem to think Dunlin x White-rumped for one reason or another.

Good birding,

Liam Waters

Sharon

--
Liam

[Liam Waters]

Cox's Sandpiper is a hybrid between a male Pectoral and a female Cerlew - so there's no Sharp-tailed in that. I couldn't find any cases of Dunlin x Sharp-tailed hybrid, and Cerlew x Sharp-tailed is called "cooper's sandpiper" but not much is known about them. Dunlin x Sharp-tailed seems to be the most common hybrid in the north east. 

Very interesting though,

Liam

Sent from my iPod so please excuse any errors. 

On Sep 14, 2013, at 11:20 PM, Suzanne Sullivan <swam...@gmail.com> wrote:

Yes I too looked at these sites especially back when it was debated last year. I just don't know how anyone, especially with the flight shot could rule out "Cox,s" seems to fit perfectly if you ask me, crazy to think about maybe but still....... whether Dunlin or maybe Curlew, seems to me Sharp-tailed is a give me.

Remember always question.......

Cheers

Suzanne

[liam waters]

** Oops.

It was brought to my attention that I had a few errors in my last post.
This is what it should read as:

       

Cox's Sandpiper is a hybrid between a male Pectoral and a female Curlew - so there's no Sharp-tailed in that. Curlew x Sharp-tailed is called "Cooper's Sandpiper" but not much is known about them. I couldn't find any cases of a Dunlin x Sharp-tailed hybrid. Dunlin x White-rumped seems to be the most common hybrid in the north east. 

Sorry about that,

(I suppose that's what I get for trying to think at 5:20am)

Good birding,
Liam Waters

Sharon

--
Liam