The putative American Golden-Plover was present Sunday 4-28-13 at 6:30a when I
arrived, and was present when I left at 7:15a in the same spot as previously
described by Tom.

The bird has a very strong/bold supercilium and seems to have a very long
primary projection, both good field marks for American vs. Pacific.

The bird spent the majority of it's time foraging and chasing kelp flies on the
upper part of the beach. A few Semipalmated Plovers were also in the area. It
did fly over to the rocky intertidal area when I first arrived, but flew back to
the original spot a few minutes later. Two Wandering Tattlers were also present
in the rocky intertidal area.

Flickr pics of the plover:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47862125@N03/8688809489/in/photostream/

Robert McNab
Laguna Niguel

--- In [email protected], Thomasabenson@... wrote:
>
> This morning (Apr 27) Chet McGaugh found and photographed a possible American
Golden-Plover at Crystal Cove State Park. This evening the bird was refound by
Tom Ford-Hutchinson and seen also by myself. Based on the very long primary
projection, this bird does appear to be an American Golden-Plover. The bird is
still primarily in basic plumage but starting to molt into alternate plumage.
>
> Directions: enter CCSP at Newport Coast Drive, pay the fee at the booth, turn
right at the T-section, the left into the first parking lot. Take the wooden
path toward the beach, then take the beach access path that forks down to the
left. The bird was between the bottom of the beach access path and lifeguard
station 12 to the north. It was still present at sunset.
>
> Tom Benson
> San Bernardino, CA
>
>
>