Here are two new photos of the albino shorebird at Pickerington Ponds Metro Park, taken on September 1, 2011. My previous post indicates that I thought the bird to be a Lesser Yellowlegs. However, I now believe it is a Solitary Sandpiper, and that the yellow legs are related to the albinism.

When I saw the bird on August 31, it was alone, and when I saw the yellow legs I immediately identified the bird as a Lesser Yellowlegs and didn't consider any other ID.

Rob Thorn had seen the bird on the previous day, associating with two Solitary Sandpipers. He saw no difference in size or behavior between the Solitary Sandpipers and the albino bird.

I went back to the location today and refound the bird. This time it was with two Solitary Sandpipers, and I noted that the albino bird was perhaps very slightly smaller than the Solitary Sandpipers. A Lesser Yellowlegs would be significantly larger.

I am now convinced that the bird is indeed a Solitary Sandpiper. The second photo shows both a normal Solitary Sandpiper and the albino bird.

This digiscope photo is an almost entirely albino Lesser Yellowlegs seen at Pickerington Ponds Metro Park on August 31, 2011 from the Ellis Pond viewing area. Note the all white feathers with the dark eye, the pale yellow bill and the yellow legs. The second photo is included to show the leg color.

These two Black Vultures were seen on December 4, 2009 at Deer Creek State Park. They were perched almost directly over the road to the boat ramp near the Marina. The photos are digiscoped.

Osprey, Deer Creek State Park, March 16, 2009




Lesser Black-backed Gull, Deer Creek State Park, March 16, 2009




Dickcissel, Blendon Woods Metro Park, March 7, 2009

Intermediate phase Red-Tailed Hawk digiscoped at Glacier Ridge Metro Park, Union County, Ohio February 9, 2009.

These photos of an adult female Dickcissel were taken during the Columbus Christmas Bird Count on December 14, 2008, at the feeders at Blendon Woods Metro Park nature center. The photos are poor in quality but are sufficient to identify the bird.