Looking at the images we have a feeling this is rather a Lesser Sand
Plover. The shape of relative fine bill, the size compared to
Semipalmated Plover and the Sandpiper would suggest this bird as a
Lesser SP. There are tricky birds for sure where features overlap
between Greater and Lesser Sand Plover but I would not exclude LSP
possibility based on the images.

Cheers, Szimi
--------
Gyorgy Szimuly
Tata, Hungary, Europe
skype: szimistyle.com
web: http://web.me.com/gyorgy.szimuly/SzimiStyles_Birding_Experience_EN/Blog/Blog.html



------------------------------

Date:    Mon, 7 Sep 2009 21:20:58 -0400
From:    Gail Mackiernan <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Sand-plover in Virginia

Hi --

This has not been posted to Birdchat, but a Sand-plover -- which many
are
now considering a Greater, although the final verdict is not in -- was
found
yesterday and continued today until dark in Staunton, Virginia just off
I-81. If it proves to be a Greater S-P. this would only be the 3rd US
record.

It is frequenting a farm pond behind a Day's Inn just off the
interstate!

Details, directions and links to photos can be seen on the VA-Birds list
accessed through Jack Siler's web site at http://birdingonthe.net.

Gail Mackiernan
Silver Spring, MD

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