[cobirds] Ruff-TimnathReservoir-Larimer County

All,

First, let me report a Red Knot at Fossil Creek Reservoir that I found at noon today.  Luckily this bird was seen by many people.  Better photos were taken than the ones I included on my Ebird checklist.  

Second, there is some question to the veracity of my report of a Ruff earlier this morning at Timnath Reservoir.  I would like to put out there first that I am more than willing to go to school on my identification of a Ruff vs. Buff-Breasted Sandpiper.  Therefore, I would love to defer to the experts.  However, several things were brought up that questioned the sighting.  Mainly, the tertial feathers.  Also, the bill was called into question.  Before I mount my defense, I would like to acknowledge that I have exactly one experience each with both of these specie.  

The reason that I called this a Ruff was the crazy dark head feathers and thick bill.  Also, the bill was thick at the base and bi-colored from what I could see.  The bill was also longer than what I would expect from a Buff-breasted.  Buff-breasted bills are short and dainty.  Beyond the the bill and the head feathers was the fact that it was larger than the Killdeer and Lesser Yellowlegs nearby.  I'm not sure how just the tertials is a good enough indicator to species at that point.  A Buff-breasted should be far smaller.  Again, in a time of molt, I'm not clear as to why the tertials are the determining factor here.  I don't usually "defend" a sighting but am at odds with this one.  Further, if this was "just" a bird that got beat up or stained by the storm.  I don't get it.  This bird looked like a Muppet.  If that storm was equivalent to a 15 round bout with Mike Tyson, I get it.  But it didn't look like it to me.

I truly hope this bird stuck around and can be refound.  Truthfully, I don't care what it is.  I think it's a Ruff.  Either way, it's a great bird for Larimer County in the fall.

Bird is the word!

Josh Bruening

Fort Collins

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