IBRC #40-B-10

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Red Knot
HOW MANY: 1 post-breeding adult

REPORTER: Dave Faike 879-5291
REPORTER EMAIL: dfaike@yahoo.com
OTHER OBSERVERS: Dave Faike Falma Cullinane

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 6/14/2010
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 6/13/2010

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Whitworth's Pond adjacent and S of Pennal Gulch sportsman's access rd, approx 2.5 mi N of Challis just E of Hwy 93, Custer Co.
HABITAT: Man-made pond
CONDITIONS: Sighted the bird at 7 AM standing on a small, low island, feeding. Both observers used binoculars, then spotting scopes since neither of us was familiar with plumage. Bird remained during entire 45 minute observation time. Sky was clear, sun was E, view of bird was directly S of us, approx 100' away. Temp was in high 40s, no wind.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, during the observation
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, during the observation
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Sibley guide to birds, Peterson guide to birds

DESCRIPTION: Shorebird. Short, greenish legs; medium, thick, slightly downturned and all black bill; short neck; white vent and undertail; black, prothonotary-like eye w/o ring; slight grayish lore; mottled buff and white breast with dark "v" marks along flanks becomming smaller dark marks along sides of upper chest and across upper breast; greyish wings, scapulars, back, mantle, neck, head ... with streaks or mottles created by dark-tipped feathers. Overall sort of short and dumpy stature.
BEHAVIOR: Fed using sewing-machine bobbing similar to dowitchers - with shorter and more rapid movement. Solo bird with no interactions observed.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? We knew what it was after a quick review of our birdbooks but I.D. was clinched beyond any doubt after viewing post-breeding adult illustration in Shorebirds - by Hayman, Marchant and Prater. Neither Sibley or Peterson show or describe the post-breeding (mottled breast) plumage.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Briefly reviewed: buff-breasted sandpiper but wrong color legs, body shape; ruff, but wrong color legs and head, and legs too long; non-breeding sharp-tail but wrong time of year, leg color, cap and supercillium.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): Have seen other red knots many years ago but in different plumage; never seen a buff-breasted sandpiper; seen only one ruff many years ago. Other observer hasn't seen any of these birds.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: Advanced (expert) Falma: advanced intermediate

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