[CT Birds] Mystery Bird (Brian Kleinman)

[snaketat at cox.net]

Hi Zellene,

I think your mystery bird could be a Spotted Sandpiper.

Brian 

Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:40:23 -0400 
From: "zellene sandler" <zellene at earthlink.net> 
Subject: [CT Birds] Mystery Bird 
To: ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org 
Message-ID: <410-220083514194023546 at earthlink.net> 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII 
 
 
I was walking along the Farmington River near Collinsville today and saw a 
bird I can't identify. It was acting much like a swallow, but flying with 
very fast wingbeats close to the water and making large circles. Every few 
seconds it would dip into the water, probably for an insect (it was warm 
today.) It was stubby shaped, rather small,  almost no tail and most 
distinctive, black patches on the body under the wings. Definitely not a 
kingfisher. 
 
I checked Sibley and Nat Geo and nothing really comes close. Help! 
 
Zellene Sandler