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I do not normally access Birding-aus however Roger
McGovern forwarded me some of the comments that appeared there about the Kentish
Plover that I reported on 13 February 2002. This note is solely to respond to
some of those comments.
I will be writing a BARC submission on behalf of
myself, Brian Speechley and Chris Herbert. The three of us observed the bird at
length before getting a telescope and camera equipment or referring to any text.
>From our observations and later reference to the literature I am of the opinion
the the bird was of the race dealbatus based on the fact that the bird had dark
ear-covert patch. There was a distinctive patchiness to the back and wing
coverts suggesting that the bird has not completed its body moult. Although the
photographs taken by Chris are more than ample to illustrate the features
mentioned here the slight hues resulting from colour refraction through the
standard Swarovski AT80 spotting scope (not the high defenition model) means we
do not have 100% acurate colours. Perhaps Mike Carter has done
better.
Phil Straw
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