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Pea Island South Pond



Hi all,

on Saturday, three other birders (Frank Witebsky, Maryland, and two folks
from Ashville NC) and I saw an injured Stilt Sandpiper at the spot where
the Ross's Geese were/are being seen near South Pond, Pea Island, Outer Banks.

The two Ashville people and I got great looks of it.
One of its feet looked completely squashed, and when it moved it just
hopped on the one foot that was not impaired.

I had the impression that other birders (including some of the tour leaders
of the Wings over Water Festival) didn't really believe me when I mentioned
that sighting to them (understandably), mainly because this is such a late
sighting and because - as a European - I proved to be not too experienced
with North American bird groups as compared to them. However, I dare say
that I know my shorebirds pretty well, and I've seen plenty of Stilt
Sandpipers in Peru on a few occasions. That's why I want to seize the
opportunity to give closer details of the sighting. I don't know just how
unusual it is, so maybe someone can provide me with some info on that.

At first glance, it looked like an unproportionately big Dunlin, but upon
closer inspection, I could see the slenderer jizz, taller size and
yellowish legs. It had a prominent supercilium and a long bill with only
slight curvature. The neat thing was that it still showed part of the
barring (of the breeding plumage) on its lower flanks (and that was real
barring, not just some dark suffusion). Its rump was all-white, and even
the rest of the tail looked all white (great looks of it) with no trace of
black streaks or stripes.

(that, the distinct jizz and the barring on the flanks show that it was no
yellowlegs).

Other notable birds around that spot were 2 Ross Geese, 2 White-rumped
Sandpipers and 3 American Pipits.
Thanks to all the great people that showed me so many incredible birds on
that day.

Frank, 
Duke University, NC