From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Wed Jul 14 17:32:47 2004 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i6F0UKOY028471 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 14 Jul 2004 17:30:21 -0700 (PDT) Received: from imo-d22.mx.aol.com (imo-d22.mx.aol.com [205.188.144.208]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i6F0T8MR028432 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 14 Jul 2004 17:29:09 -0700 (PDT) Received: from [[email protected]] by imo-d22.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v37_r2.6.) id t.12f.4648738d (3948) for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 14 Jul 2004 20:29:03 -0400 (EDT) From: [[email protected]] Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 20:29:03 EDT To: [[email protected]] MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: 9.0 for Windows sub 5113 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5b1 Subject: [SBB] Ruffs in New Chicago Marsh X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5b1 Precedence: list List-Id: South Bay Birding List-Unsubscribe: , List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Errors-To: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] All, This morning Dean Manley and I spent some time studying a partial alternate plumaged male RUFF in New Chicago Marsh (head and neck in basic plumage with the rest of the body in alternate plumage). This bird was clearly much bigger (taller and more massive) than any of the Dowitchers seen near it. The base of the bill, the throat, front and side of the neck and upper chest were an off-white with the lower belly and undertail coverts being a brighter white (but not as bright as the white on Black-necked Stilts nearby). Large blackish areas extended down both sides of the chest coming to a "point" on the lower sides in the area of the legs. A thin section of white running between the two blackish areas connected the white of the chest to the white on the belly. White from the belly extended forward on the flanks, narrowing to a point at the front some distance behind the "shoulder." The back was quite dark and under certain lighting conditions when viewing the bird from the rear and side, alternating rows of rufous and blackish-brown could be seen. The tertials were barred. Fairly large, bright, unmarked rufous patches were in the area of the "shoulders." The crown was a dark grayish-black, the back of the neck and the upper mantle were a light gray. The bill looked to be primarily black with orange at the base and extending along the bottom side of the lower mandible. The legs were a pale yellowish-pink (looking much more toward orange-pink earlier in the day). Based on the large black patches and the whitish throat and neck Dean was absolutely certain that this was not the Ruff he had seen and that this male is most likely the bird reported by Al Eisner (hopefully Dean will also write something on this). After we had observed the Ruff for some time we noted that a large flock of Dowitchers had moved into the pond nearest the EEC entrance road on the east side of the tracks. We decided to check them out and in fairly short order Dean located another Ruff. This Ruff was about the same size as the Dowitchers near it with a darker neck and chest (most likely a female from size and markings). Unfortunately, the bird was backlit so we decided to move for better views and you know the rest of the story. We lost the bird. A classic case of bad planning (or rather no plan). In trying to re-find the new Ruff we ultimately relocated the male Ruff, now somewhat closer, and we were able to share the bird with Dave Weber and a couple (Don and his wife Charlene? sorry about the bad memory). The male Ruff liked to spend a lot of time feeding on the edge of the Pickleweed and would often disappear behind the smallest island for the longest time. At it's closest it was perhaps 150 yds away, furthest away 200 plus yds (more toward the center of the marsh). The air and resultant viewing was much better in the morning. Scopes highly recommended. I should also note that when I first arrived (around 9 AM) the marsh was alive with hundreds, perhaps thousands of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES with a few WILSON'S PHALAROPES mixed in allowing a nice comparison of size and coloring. Later only Wilson's Phalaropes were in that section of the marsh. Take care, Bob Reiling _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. south-bay-birds mailing list ([[email protected]]) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: http://www.plaidworks.com/mailman/options/south-bay-birds/south-bay-birds-archive%40plaidworks.com This email sent to [[email protected]]