Many thanks to all for informing me of this new marking program. As is suggested, the bird recently sighted here with Fy on the right leg, very likely originated in Peru.  I and other contacts were unaware that any western hemisphere countries were applying Fy. Unfortunately, we will never know the identity or origin of the bird sighted in Ft. George Inlet due to the brevity of the observation and distance from the observer when detected. Having viewed images of geolocators applied to British SAND, it would be easy to confuse those yellow devices with Fy at any distance.  Even the identity to species is suspect, but when the REKN flushed away, the lone bird remaining appeared to be of SAND size and shape.  However, there is no doubt as to the bright yellow marker on the right leg that projected outward.

 

If only for a few seconds more observation and study but I was reduced to following its path through binoculars as it flew low to the north over the inlet and out of view. Here’s hoping the subject bird or another of the Peruvian cohort will be resighted elsewhere along the Atlantic coast this spring. 

 

Best regards, 

 

Patrick Leary, Fernandina Beach, Nassau County, FL 

 

From: Eveling Tavera Fernandez [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2012 9:33 AM
To: David Mizrahi
Cc: Patrick Leary; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SHOREBIRDS] SAND with Yellow marker

 

Dear David,

 

Thank you for forwarding this message. 

Perhaps, this might be one of our sanderlings, as you just said. We marked almost 100 of them this first banding campaign (from January to March) at Paracas National Reserve, in Peru. 

I have not heard from any other project involving sanderlings in the western hemisphere.

I would like Patrick to know that we have also put our yellow flags in semipalmated sandpipers, wester sandpipers and in some semipalmated plovers. 

We would appreciate very much any resighting of these individuals (our yellow flags to difference from David's start with a number in the 3 letter alpha codification), our website will be improve this months with the resighting part, but please feel free to contact me to this email.

 

Thank you very much for this information!

Warmest regards,

Eve

 

PS. I have tried to join the SHOREBIRDS list server, but it seems I can't post anything there, yet. Can anyone of you help me with this, if there is any option I need to modify in order to be able to post? Thanks again.

 

--

BSc. Eveling Tavera Fernandez, Coordinadora

Programa de Anillamiento CORBIDI (PAC)
CORBIDI - Sta Rita 105 of 202, Huertos de San Antonio

Surco. Lima 33 - Peru

Tel: (51-1) 3441701        Cel: (51-1) 975 598232


**** Ya viene muy pronto la nueva website del PAC... para mayor información por favor visite:  <http://www.corbidi.org> www.corbidi.org ****

**** The PAC's new website is coming very soon.. for more information please visit:  <http://www.corbidi.org> www.corbidi.org ****





On 13 May 2012 07:52, David Mizrahi <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Patrick,
Just a note that in the Western Hemisphere, Peru uses yellow flags.  A group there recently started a shorebird marking program that may have included sanderling.  To find out more you can contact Eveling Tavera Fernandez ([log in to unmask]) who I copy on this email.  Good luck and keep up the good work.

Best,



David S. Mizrahi, Ph.D.
Vice-president, Research and Monitoring
New Jersey Audubon Society
600 Route 47 North 
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Office:     609.861.1608 x17
Fax:   609.861.1651
 
Making New Jersey a better place for people and wildlife since 1897


On 05/12/12 07:16, Patrick Leary wrote: 

Ft. George Inlet (Huguenot Park inlet shore)  While surveying Red knots in
the inlet on Thursday 3, May, a Sanderling with a conspicuous yellow
marker mounted on its right leg was briefly sighted before flushing and
flying north across the inlet.  Initially the bright marker was mistaken
for a geolocator attached to one of many knots foraging on a distant sand
bar. However, when the knots flushed away, a lone Sanderling remained with
the yellow marker. Although viewed briefly, it was evident that the marker
was a flag of some manner and not a color band.  At 4-500 meters distance
from my vantage point, no code could be detected and the bird was in view
for less than 10 seconds before it took flight and continued north across
the wide inlet. When first detected, I did not even have time to zoom my
scope’s eyepiece on the bird before it departed.
 
Following my departure from HMP, I entered Lt. Talbot Island State Park,
drove down to the north side of the inlet and hiked out to the beach to
search for the bird, but none of the SAND found there were marked. Per
international marking protocol, Yellow-flagged shorebirds originate in
Australia or East Asia.  However some SAND in Britain have been affixed
with small yellow geolocators. Per consultation with Dr. Larry Niles, no
SAND in NA have been affixed with such geolocators.  Supplementary markers
denote specific countries of origin, but this morning’s bird was much too
distant and viewed too briefly to determine if the yellow marker was a
flag or geolocator.
 
The unusual occurrence of a possible, western Pacific, SAND follows the
appearance of the Greater Sand Plover at HMP a few years past. With the
increased marking and tracking of shorebirds across the globe, we may
discover that Asian or European migrants shift into this hemisphere more
frequently than previously thought.  It is most unfortunate that more data
could not have been collected from the briefly sighted bird, but such is
the nature of some observations during peak migratory periods.  Should the
bird pass through Britain and be recaptured or pass through DelBay this
spring and be captured the researchers may have quite a surprise as to its
global wanderings.
 
This message will posted to other listserves in the hope that other
Atlantic coast observers may sight the bird as it moves along the Atlantic
flyway.
 
Patrick Leary, Fernandina Beach, Nassau County, FL