Semipalmated Plover

 Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

Congratulations to Tom Brereton and Marcus John of Naturetrek for finding the mega-rarity featured in the present post: a juvenile Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), discovered at the seawater pools next to the island's airport. I was tipped off by Tom yesterday evening (Oct 4) and managed to photograph the bird this morning.

There are presently about four Ringed Plovers (Charadrius hiaticula) at the same location, but the Semipalmated was not difficult to find. Note the very thin, pale orbital ring, and of course, the distinct webs between both outer and inner toes.

The photograph above, and the heavily-cropped version below show the webbed toes clearly.

Other identification features include the relatively narrow, dark breast band, unbroken in the centre, and the overall smaller size of this bird, compared to the nearby Ringed Plovers present at the same site.

I will submit this sighting to the Spanish Rarities Committee in due course, as second observer of this North American vagrant.

Juvenile Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), discovered by Marcus John and Tom Brereton during a recent trip to La Palma
(All photographs by R. Burton)