Is this a turnstone? (Titchwell, UK) (1 Viewer)

MikeEvans

Owner of a pink ED50, and proud of it!!

• Mar 6, 2006

• #1

forgive the appalling picture, first time digiscoping (Nikon ED82A + Canon S80)

 

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Keith Dickinson

Well-known member

Opus Editor

• Mar 6, 2006

• #2

Possibly a ruff Mike

 

D

Dave J

Dave J

• Mar 6, 2006

• #3

Hi Mike

The bird in your pic. is a Ruff.

 

da2m

Well-known member

• Mar 6, 2006

• #4

MikeEvans said:

forgive the appalling picture, first time digiscoping (Nikon ED82A + Canon S80)

Click to expand...

no. . this is a turnstone.

 

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MikeEvans

Owner of a pink ED50, and proud of it!!

• Mar 6, 2006

• #5

some more pics

Thanks for the responses,

I did get a couple more (even worse!) shots, it was the shortness of the bill and the short orange legs that made me think turnstone, rather than ruff. What is it that I should have been looking for?

 

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da2m

Well-known member

• Mar 6, 2006

• #6

MikeEvans said:

Thanks for the responses,

I did get a couple more (even worse!) shots, it was the shortness of the bill and the short orange legs that made me think turnstone, rather than ruff. What is it that I should have been looking for?

Click to expand...

as the photo shows they are a lot darker. the wings and back are motled brown and black. breast is white. a really short bill. they tend to run along the strand line flipping stones over, very busy birds. good luck seeing them. they are great to watch. i,m trying to find a ruff we should swap sites!

 

MikeEvans

Owner of a pink ED50, and proud of it!!

• Mar 6, 2006

• #7

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

Keith Dickinson

Well-known member

Opus Editor

• Mar 6, 2006

• #8

Mike
Male ruff are a good deal larger than females. The size difference is really apparent when you see a large mixed group of ruff. The difference is such that for novice wader watchers they can think they are watching 2 different species, I did for quite a while, until I went on a couple of wader recognition walks at Blacktoft.
With female ruff, the head always seem to look too small for the body. The base of the bill may have the white patch as seen on your photo, but sometimes there isn't the patch. They always seem to give the impression of being badly dressed, the plumage seems loose-fitting and individual feathers will be moved by stray gusts of wind.