Over breakfast, my doctor (Michael Dempsey) called with good news, and I in turn, was able to share my good news re: the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, who was having her breakfast around the patio, while we were talking !
And now for my "2 cents" concerning the ID question posed by the Arie Gilbert/Phil Urubaru posting on 7/16. After reading Angus Wilson's response to them, in particular re: the longer legs of the Curlew Sandpiper, I would like to advance the idea that in some cases of limited viewing, just the length of the tibia is a fairly good mark in helping to separate the Curlew from the Dunlin. Admittedly, I can't find this referenced in the text of any of the many general bird guides, or the 2 excellent shorebird guides I own (the size is probably too variable), but a number of them show it in their illustrations. Thus, I know it stands to reason, one shouldn't rely on this, but if, and when, the next opportunity arises to consider it..."check it out" ! Although I certainly could not tell by looking at the Gilbert/Urubaru photos which of the two species the bird was, I can attest to identifying both species in the past, using the tibia, along with some of both species other field marks, ie, on 10/3/78 at the East Pond, J.B.W.R.(my first C.S. sighting). "Winter plumage - saw white rump both while standing & in flight - noticed slight curve throughout length of bill - also noticed longer legs than Dunlin, with more showing above knee"...didn't know it was called tibia back then ! I have also been able to make this direct comparison on at least one other occasion. Cheers, Bob -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
