First Panama Record of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (?) (!)

Jan Axel Cubilla and Osvaldo Quintero found this weird sandpiper at Finca Bayano today. If it turns out to be a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, it could be the second record in Latin America (there's a 2014 record from Bolivia) of this Asian shorebird.

And what's a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper? Audubon explains:

This Asian shorebird is related to our Pectoral Sandpiper, and like that species is it a long-distance migrant, traveling from Siberia to Australia and New Zealand. A few reach North America every year, mostly fall migrants in Alaska and the Pacific northwest; a casual stray in other areas, rare in spring.

And where was it? Jan Axel explains:

en los campos semi inundados en el camino detrás de las instalaciones de mantenimiento y de la pista de aterrizaje

Their eBird checklist has all the details:

*mega. If accepted, first report for Panama (and Central America). Similar size to nearby Pectoral Sandpiper but more pot-bellied and short-necked. Contrasting chestnut crown and white eyebrow. Buff breast, white throat... just very few and non-contrasting streaks on sides of the breast and a thin necklace under the throat in the upper breast. White belly and vent. The vent with black streaks. Yellow-green legs.

But that was not the only highlight of the day:
2 American Golden-Plovers


6 Stilt Sandpipers


3 White-rumped Sandpipers


1 Buff-breasted Sandpiper