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Hi All, My apologies on the Broad-billed Sandpiper oversight, no slight intended, my first search for Broad-billed Sandpiper records was based on
1. My limited book collection of just over 200 bird books. This just goes to show one can never have enough bird books!
2. A Internet Based Search for “Canadian Records of Broad-billed Sandpipers” which turned up no records of Broad-billed Sandpipers in Canada, including the 1990 sighting and Johnny’s earlier record for Cape Sable Island. Such is the limitations of the Internet.
As a followup today I did a search for “North American Sightings” for Broad-billed Sandpiper and that turned up a list of 3 which of course is by no means a complete list. These 3 sightings were:
1. First State Record for Massachusetts - September 10, 2002, Plum Island (Essex), R. Heil. While counting shorebirds the observer was shocked to come upon a Broad-billed Sandpiper among a group of calidrids. He was able to study it with a 60x zoom for a total of 15 minutes from as close as 80 yards and in excellent light. At that distance even the specific feather detail was clear, and he was able to age it as a worn juvenile. This Asian vagrant is generally uncommon, even within its range, but in August of 2002 there was an influx of Broad-bills in Europe, with greater than normal numbers from England to Hungary. The appearance of this individual is most likely associated with this incursion, although an Asian origin cannot be ruled out.
2. Only Photographically Documented Record -The only photographically documented record in North American (outside Alaska) was in New York in August 1998 (North American Birds, Vol. 53, No. 1: p. 36)
3. Convincing Sight Record - there is a convincing sight record from Nova Scotia in September 1990 (American Birds, Vol. 45, No. 1: p. 69).
However regardless of missing reports on the internet, it is certain, from the few facts that we do have that Johnny’s & Clyde’s Broad-billed Sandpiper is a fabulous find and holds the distinction of being the first getable Broad-billed Sandpiper. Or put another way the first Broad-billed Sandpiper that provided the chance for other birders to enjoy it. And being the first gettable Broad-billed Sandpiper sighting certainly makes it, in my eyes, the Best Broad-billed Sandpiper sighting for the province.
- All the Best in Birding, Clarence
PS: Andy I hope my earlier believe didn’t lead you down the garden path in a hand basket. :-)
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