On Sunday 3rd November a group of us (including David Fisher and Judy
Davis of Sunbird - both with extensive experience of both species)
revisited this bird at Mason Park. There is indeed a bird with a
noticeably grey (and not golden) body, and a white (not buff)
supercillium, present in a group of 10 Pacific Golden Plovers. In our
opinion this bird is also a Pacific and not American GP.
This bird was an adult still undergoing moult. That is why it seems
to have a white supercillium whilst the other birds have completed
their moult. Its primaries and tertials (which are in a bit of a
shoddy state!) fit Pacific.
As this bird has more black feathering on its breast than the bird I
watched a month ago, I'd say this individual is not the bird reported
earlier.
In summary - we do not believe there was an American GP present at
Mason Park yesterday. I believe recent reports are due to people
believing that all they need to see is a white supercillium to make it
American - which is wrong.
Chris Gladwin
BIRDLINE NSW (02) 9290 1778 - sponsored by RAOU
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