[NatureNS] Wilson's Plover - Crescent Beach

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Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 09:59:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: Clarence Stevens <birder_ca@yahoo.com>
To: "naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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=0A=0A=0A=0A________________________________=0AWilson's Plover - Crescent B=
each =0A=0AHi All, Dad discovered a Wilson's Plover on the backside of Cres=
cent Beach. The bird's diagnostic marks include:=0A=0A1.=A0 size - larger t=
han a Semipalmated Plover.=0A2.=A0 a humongous black bill.=0A3.=A0 pale fle=
sh colored legs. =0A=0ADad also noted it had a wide brown band, not a black=
 one, indicating it was a female or possibly an advanced immature bird. =0A=
=0AWhen looking for this individual it is best to time your arrival for low=
 tide conditions, as it is unknown as to where, the bird disappears to duri=
ng high tide. =0A=0ADue to the extensive amount of sand that has been depos=
ited this year on the sand flats behind Crescent Beach, the water is quite =
a bit shallower and the flats had grown in size. =0A=0ATiming on these flat=
s is now crucial for two reasons =0A=0A1. Low tide conditions on the flats =
do not match up with the predicted low tide for the region, they never have=
 but are now even more out on alignment. =0A=0A2. Due to their shallowness =
these flats now become covered and uncovered in a very short period of time=
. In less than 10 minutes the sand can grow from a narrow strip of sand to =
a wide sand flat extending off in the distance. In addition once the waters=
 start to shift the entire flats become flooded or unflooded in a space of =
about 20 minutes. =0A=0AFor optimum viewing is is best to arrive 3 hours an=
d 30 minutes before the predicted low tide for Lunenburg as at 3 hours and =
twenty five minutes the sand begins to be exposed and provide the best view=
ing conditions as the birds are close to the road. After that, many of the =
birds become quite distant. =0A=0AThe good news is that the flats stay expo=
sed for about 6 hours. =0A=0AThe Wilson's Plover was first spotted at 2:30 =
on Tuesday August 20, it was present for about 20 minutes after which time =
we could not relocate it. We searched again on the next low tide cycle on W=
ednesday but once more it alluded us with foggy conditions hampering our ef=
forts. =0A=0ASorry for the delay on this report. Due to ongoing criticisms =
of Dad's and mine birding abilities by a certain person in the birding comm=
unity, Dad was hesitant about reporting this rarity. It should be noted tha=
t Dad is very careful with his identifications a fact that is apparent to a=
nyone who has spent time birding with him. =0A=0ASadly due to the slanderou=
s attacks over the past several years a number very good rarities have now =
gone unreported to avoid further contentions. Even sadder is the fact that =
all over the province rare birds have not been reported by various birders =
for the same reasons. =0A=0AIt is one thing to have doubts about someone's =
identifications, it is quite another to begin a campaign to discredit a bir=
der just because you disagree with his reports. This is something that has =
been done repeatedly by this individual in the past and is something he con=
tinues to pursue, an action that should not tolerated by any of us and will=
 no longer be tolerated personally in any degree. =0A=0AAnyone who plans to=
 go looking for this plover it is worth knowing that shorebirds that first =
show up on Crescent Beach flats can sometimes be hard to find again, a good=
 recent example is Eric's Western Sandpiper. =0A=0AHowever a number of thes=
e missing birds seem to resurface at the nearby Cherryhill Beach so it too =
is worth a check. Cherryhill Beach is an excellent rarity hot spot that has=
 netted birds such as Common Greenshank and Little Stints. Unfortunately th=
e best birds are often at the very end of the beach and Dad and I did not g=
et the chance to see if the Wilson's Plover had shifted to that location. =
=0A=0AGood Luck. and if you can. let Dad or I know if you spot the bird. Bo=
th of us are best reached by phone, we're in the book. - Cheers, Clarence =
=0A=0APS: In addition to Dad's Wilson's Plover we had 16 species of shorebi=
rds at or very near the Crescent Beach flats yesterday, they included 100+B=
lack-bellied Plovers, 2 Golden Plovers, 700+Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Whimbre=
l (fly over), 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 3 Ruddy Turnstones, 2 Baird's Sandpipe=
rs, a smattering of Semipalmated, Least and White-rumped Sandpipers, 1 Dunl=
in, 50+ Sanderlings, 50 + Greater Yellowlegs, 12+ Lesser Yellowlegs, 100 + =
Short-billed Dowitchers, and 2 Spotted Sandpipers nearby. 
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<DIV style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<DIV style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SI=
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<DIV style=3D"RIGHT: auto" dir=3Dltr>
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<div><STRONG>Wilson's Plover - Crescent Beach </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Hi All, Dad discovered a Wilson's Plover on the backside of Cr=
escent Beach. The bird's diagnostic marks include:</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>1.&nbsp; size - larger than a Semipalmated Plover.</STRONG></d=
iv>
<div><STRONG>2.&nbsp; a humongous black bill.</STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>3.&nbsp; pale flesh colored legs. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Dad also noted it had a wide b<VAR id=3Dyui-ie-cursor></VAR>ro=
wn band, not a black one, indicating it was a female or possibly an advance=
d immature bird. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>When looking for this individual it is best to time your arriv=
al for low tide conditions, as it is unknown as to where, the bird disappea=
rs to during high tide. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Due to the extensive amount of sand that has been deposited th=
is year on the sand flats behind Crescent Beach, the water is quite a bit s=
hallower and the flats had grown in size. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Timing on these flats is now crucial for two reasons </STRONG>=
</div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>1. Low tide conditions on the flats do not match up with the p=
redicted low tide for the region, they never have but are now even more out=
 on alignment. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>2. Due to their shallowness these flats now become covered and=
 uncovered in a very short period of time. In less than 10 minutes the sand=
 can grow from a narrow strip of sand to a wide sand flat extending off in =
the distance. In addition once the waters start to shift the entire flats b=
ecome flooded or unflooded in a space of about 20 minutes. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>For optimum viewing is is best to arrive 3 hours and 30 minute=
s before the predicted low tide for Lunenburg as at 3 hours and twenty five=
 minutes the sand begins to be exposed and provide the best viewing conditi=
ons as the birds are close to the road. After that, many of the birds becom=
e quite distant. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>The good news is that the flats stay exposed for about 6 hours=
. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>The Wilson's Plover was first spotted at 2:30 on Tuesday Augus=
t 20, it was present for about 20 minutes after which time we could not rel=
ocate it. We searched again on the next low tide cycle on Wednesday but onc=
e more it alluded us with foggy conditions hampering our efforts. </STRONG>=
</div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Sorry for the delay on this report. Due to ongoing criticisms =
of Dad's and mine birding abilities by a certain person in the birding comm=
unity, Dad was hesitant about reporting this rarity. It should be noted tha=
t Dad is very careful with his identifications a fact that is apparent to a=
nyone who has spent time birding with him. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Sadly due to the slanderous attacks over the past several year=
s a number very good rarities have now gone unreported to avoid further con=
tentions. Even sadder is the fact that all over the province rare birds hav=
e not been reported by various birders for the same reasons. </STRONG></div=
>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>It is one thing to have doubts about someone's identifications=
, it is quite another to begin a campaign to discredit a birder just becaus=
e you disagree with his reports. This is something that has been done repea=
tedly by this individual in the past and is something he continues to pursu=
e, an action that should not tolerated by any of us and will no longer be t=
olerated personally in any degree. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Anyone who plans to go looking for this plover it is worth kno=
wing that shorebirds that first show up on Crescent Beach flats can sometim=
es be hard to find again, a good recent example is Eric's Western Sandpiper=
. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>However a number of these missing birds seem to resurface at t=
he nearby Cherryhill Beach so it too is worth a check. Cherryhill Beach is =
an excellent rarity hot spot that has netted birds such as Common Greenshan=
k and Little Stints. Unfortunately the best birds are often at the very end=
 of the beach and Dad and I did not get the chance to see if the Wilson's P=
lover had shifted to that location. </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>Good Luck. and if you can. let Dad or I know if you spot the b=
ird. Both of us are best reached by phone, we're in the book. - Cheers, Cla=
rence </STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG><BR></STRONG></div>
<div><STRONG>PS: In addition to Dad's Wilson's Plover we had 16 species of =
shorebirds at or very near the Crescent Beach flats yesterday, they include=
d 100+Black-bellied Plovers, 2 Golden Plovers, 700+Semipalmated Plovers, 1 =
Whimbrel (fly over), 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 3 Ruddy Turnstones, 2 Baird's S=
andpipers, a smattering of Semipalmated, Least and White-rumped Sandpipers,=
 1 Dunlin, 50+ Sanderlings, 50 + Greater Yellowlegs, 12+ Lesser Yellowlegs,=
 100 + Short-billed Dowitchers, and 2 Spotted Sandpipers nearby. </STRONG><=
/div></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV></div></body></html>
---352802979-527892865-1377190767=:638--

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