Record #:  29-B-04

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: 

Upland Sandpiper

HOW MANY:

4

REPORTER: 

Cliff Weisse
4125 Beaver Springs Rd.
Island Park, ID 83429
208-558-7789

REPORTER EMAIL: 

cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

Darren Clark
riversilt@hotmail.com

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 

12/13/2006

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 

5/18/2004

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

High Valley, Valley County

HABITAT:

Wet (lush, not marshy) Meadow

CONDITIONS:

I don't recall mucah about the conditions except that it was raining during the morning.  We had fairly close views, less than 75 yards at times.

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 Guide to Birds of North America

DESCRIPTION: 

Fairly large shorebirds with long legs and long neck.  I can't recall any specific details noted at the time of the sighting.  A photo was taken at the same location on 5/17/2004 by Dave Lawrence.  It's posted on the Idahobirds web site at http://idahobirds.net/photo/upsa17may04.html



BEHAVIOR: 

I reacll that they flew short distances and foraged in grassy areas.  Otherwise I don't recall any behavior.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

I was already aware of the presence of Upland Sandpipers so the identification was easy.  I saw one flying first and immediately recognized it.  We approached and viewed the bird at closer range to confirm the identification.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

There really aren't any species that could easily be confused with Upland Sandpiper.  The long neck, small head with large dark eye, long yellowish legs, extremely short wings that reach about half way down the tail, and short, bicolored bill eliminate other shorebirds.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): 

I've only seen Upland Sandpiper on one previous occasion.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: 

14 years

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

None