FYI

Charlene Malone
St. Louis co.
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richmond" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 8:46 PM
Subject: IBET Speaker Lake


>A black-legged peep displaying characters suggestive of a LITTLE STINT was
> observed toward the north end of Speaker Lake early this morning (June 2).
> Features noted when viewed in direct comparison with several Semipalmated
> Sandpipers -
>
> -legs appeared longer
> -bill thinner
> -despite same general size, had overall daintier appearance
> -jauntier gait while feeding
>
> Other features noted-
>
> -white throat
> -heavily speckled chest
> -whitish supercilium
> -two obvious white lines on edge of mantle
>
> Although at one point I felt I was seeing some buffy coloration on the
> speckled chest - the bird did not appear to be as brightly colored as one
> might expect for this species. I have two possible explanations for this -
>
> The bird's plumage had the "crisp" appearance of a freshly molted
> individual. It is my understanding that this species actually becomes
> brighter later in the season as the feathers wear. Also, I was viewing it
> between waves of rain under a very dark heavily overcast sky. It is likely
> it could have a much different appearance under better lighting 
> conditions.
>
> I viewed it twice for a total of about twenty minutes. After the second
> time, I could not relocate it. I was not under the impression that any 
> birds
> had left, but most of the peeps had retreated into the northwest corner of
> the lake where viewing them closely was difficult.
>
> At no time did I feel the bird could be a Least Sandpiper; nor did I ever
> have the impression it was likely a Western Sandpiper. If it was a
> Semipalmated Sandpiper, it was unlike any I have ever seen.
>
> Other more mundane sightings from there this morning -
>
> BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 1
> SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 200
> WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - 25
> SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - 1
>
> Speaker Lake is located in the southwest corner of Fayette County. It is
> accessed by walking south from Parking Lot #3, which is reached by driving
> east on 450north from 60east.
>
> Kevin Richmond
> turnstone at flink.com
> Morton, Illinois
>
>
>
>
>
>
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