[EBB Sightings] Little Stint
[EBB Sightings] Little Stint
Fogeggs
Fri Aug 13 14:15:02 PDT 2004
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I arrived at the Albany mudflats around 10:35 this morning, and the tide was
already nearly up to the pickleweed. Within five minutes, I spotted a peep
that was clearly smaller and more rufous than the surrounding Westerns, and got
the scope on it. It was hard to keep the scope on it because it was dashing
around so much, very active in running and feeding movements compared to the
Westerns. When it did pause, I saw black legs, a thin short bill, rufous or
buff edges to the feathers well down into the wing, including the scapulars,
coverts and tertials, and white lines on the mantle, forming a V, with the open
end of the V at the nape. The overall shape of the bird was rounded and
compact, with the wingtips the same length as the tail. At one point the bird raised
its right foot, and I'm nearly certain that I saw no webbing between the toes.
Going by the various guides, it appears to me, being no expert on stints,
that the bird is an adult, as it showed no pale nape, and showed rufous or buff
throughout the folded wing structure.
The best portrayal I could find to match this bird is a painting by Lars
Jonnson in "American Birds", summer of 1987 issue, on page 227, "b: Little Stint,
somewhat worn".
The stint was on the nearest mudflats, where the creek enters the bay, a few
yards south, toward the freeway from the nearer viewing platform. It was
across the channel from me, and before flying off, it was quite close, within
forty feet perhaps. The tide quickly covered up the last of the mud, and the
entire peep flock took off to the north. Kevin McKereghan was nearby and thought
that the flock went to the shell mounds just south of Central Avenue, but by
now the tide will be heading out, and the mud reappearing. I hope someone can
get a photo of this bird! This site is on Buchanan St in Albany, just west of
I-80, well before you reach the racetrack.
Brian Fitch
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