Chestnut-collared Longspur at Hornsby

15 species of shorebird yesterday at Hornsby. But this Chestnut-collared longspur was a treat. Seems to be a young male with a hint of black on belly and a hint of chestnut on collar. Good looks at Baird’s Sandpiper, American Golden Plover and both yellowlegs were also a pleasure!

17 species of shorebird this morning at Hornsby. Ties my personal best at Hornsby and I just missed the BB Plover that was reported. Migrating Franklin’s Gulls and White-faced Ibis also cool.

Now is a good time to visit Hornsby to study the 3 small peeps (as Allan and I did this morning). Notice how the “frostier” semipalm and Western stick out in a group of brown Least. Notice the chevron marks on flanks of Western and lack of on Semipalm. Notice how colorful western is and…

Here’s a comparison between a molting adult (right) and a 1st fall Lesser yellowlegs. Notice the immaculate patterns on the back of the left bird (juve). The adult’s alternate feathers are worn and dull in the coverts and scapulars. You can see emerging basic mantle feathers on the adult which are gray and large and…