I have been hearing and seeing Upland Sandpipers for the last 6 days at
Bradford Farm in Columbia. There is a lot of suitable habitat and I've
seen them during all times of day, but mostly in the morning and along
the recently mowed areas surrounding the research fields, and around the
retreating west pond. One morning last week I had one circle the field
I was in for 5 - 10 minutes, landing then flying off loudly calling
that "...weird, unearthly, bubbling whistle...", trying to find a spot
where the grass was suitable for both foraging and hiding. Tonight, I
found one perched in the open on a rock by the west pond. I got my
scope out to get a proper view and it started to move, but I did manage a
bad photo.
Upland Sandpiper Bradford Farm 07-24-2012
http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q322/middleboo/Bradford%20Farm%20July%202012/Upland_Sandpiper_Bradford_07-24-2012.jpg
As I was leaving tonight, I showed the picture to the farm
superintendent Tim Reinbott. He said he had a picture to show me of a
bird he and a few others had seen a couple days before. They had never
seen a bird like this before at Bradford Farm. We went out to where
they saw it and had no luck relocating it. Tim emailed me the photos
and I'm fairly certain it is a juvenile male Ring-necked Pheasant.
Tim's first question was "Where do you think it came from?". Since I've
only been here a few months, I thought that would be a good question
for the listserv.
Ring-necked Pheasant Bradford Farm
http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q322/middleboo/Bradford%20Farm%20July%202012/Ring-necked_Pheasant_Bradford.jpg
Are these birds common in mid-Missouri? Does anyone have any
insight on where this bird could have come from? Is there an
established population close to Columbia, or in the immediate area of
Bradford Farm?
Thanks.
Andrew
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