4-B-12

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Least Sandpiper
HOW MANY: 4

REPORTER: Brian Cooper 12364 Iowa Nampa,ID 83686
REPORTER EMAIL: bpcooer@msn.com
OTHER OBSERVERS: Matt Fischer

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 1/10/2012
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 12/17/2012

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Lower Dam Outflow Canal, Deer Flat Natl Wildlife Refuge, Caldwell, Idaho
HABITAT: 3-4 inches slow moving water
CONDITIONS: 10-15 minutes, dawn was breaking and the sun was coming up. No wind, temperature was in the low twenties. We were about 30 feet from the birds. Bushnell 8x42 binos.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, during the observation
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Sibley's David Sibley and bird app on Iphone

DESCRIPTION: Sandpiper-Sandpiper shape and habitat. Small peep, dark back,white below with dark band of tight streaks across chest. Bill short and thin with slight downcurve.white throat,dark line through eye with white line above eye. legs dull yellow.
BEHAVIOR: The birds were actively feeding in a tight group. The feeding was frenzied with quick movements. They totally ignored our being there. They were right next to a Kildeer,so there small size was apparent.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? My first impression was the small size. Due to the light I could not see the leg color. After 10 minutes, the sun came up enough to see the dull yellow leg color.The leg color was the key for the indentification.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Too small for Dunlin or Western Sandpiper. Yellow leg color is key for a Least Sandpiper.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I have seen thousands of them all over the US and Mexico
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: 50 years advanced birder with some formal training in Ornithology.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo

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