Date: 9/17/26 2:14 pm From: Mike Grant <000006656412c20d-dmarc-request...> Subject: Reported Ruff in STL County was a Stained Pectoral SP
I wanted to get this on the list serve.
On 9/16 about 5pm a Ruff was reported on the Discord server. Location was the ponds along River Valley Drive in Maryland Heights. These ponds are between Little Creve Coeur Ecological Area and warehouse row.
As might be expected birders descended upon the location. Many of us got on the bird and were celebrating. But then nay-sayers started to cast doubt, saying that while some coloring on the bird favored Ruff, the structure, size and bill all indicated a Pectoral Sandpiper with some stains on the front. Photo analyses of many pictures including one that showed a black stripe in the center of the tail (good for Pec, wrong for Ruff) led to the conclusion that it was a dirty Pec. Bummer as it would have been a lifer for some of the newer birders that came with high hopes.
Mike Grant
Chesterfield, MO
------------------------------------------------------------ The Missouri Birding Society's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
