When returning from the first week of my summer vacation, a stunning male Greater Sand Plover showed up on my route near Stavanger in western Norway. It stayed for a day, and gave good views while feeding among Ringed Plovers and other shorebirds on 11 July 2012.
Ten years (and two days) ago, without knowing about its presense, I drove past the third Greater Sand Plover for Norway about 50 kilometers south of this years bird. The ten year old discouragement finally vanished!
Ten years (and two days) ago, without knowing about its presense, I drove past the third Greater Sand Plover for Norway about 50 kilometers south of this years bird. The ten year old discouragement finally vanished!
Despite being rather generous in terms of iso, lens "add-ons", long distance and heavy cropping, the picture illustrates a pretty straightforward Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii). Do especially note the moult progression in this picture. Lesser Sand Plover in adult plumage would not have aquired as many new feathers as this bird.
Greater Sand Plovers divided in three subspecies. Separating them is a bugger, but according to the article linked below, this bird show several characteristics that support crassirostris, the so-called Transcaspian group.
Not the best angle, being slightly from the rear, but note the projection toes - a supportive character when separating Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers. The shape of the wing-bar is conclusive (widening in the inner hand) in terms of excluding Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus).
This will be the sixth Greater Sand Plover for Norway, and the third for Rogaland county. With two birds from Vest-Agder county, southwestern Norway holds 5/6 of the national records. The last one bird was from Finnmark county in northern Norway. The time-span of Norwegian records are from primo may until primo august (three in mid July).
On a remote beach, far away from home.
Sources and recommended litterature
PS! Ten years ago, minus five days, I was twitching the first Lesser Sand Plover just south of the two mentioned plovers. Wow - July rules!
- Norwegian rarities committee publications
- The Norwegian list
- Identification, taxonomy and distribution of Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers (PDF)
PS! Ten years ago, minus five days, I was twitching the first Lesser Sand Plover just south of the two mentioned plovers. Wow - July rules!
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