Sandpipers to ID! (1 Viewer)

Progne Subis

Bird is the word...

• Oct 24, 2005

• #1

Shorebirds to ID!

The sandpiper photo was taken on the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washinton. I know the two on the left are Sanderlings, it's the other two which have me a bit boggled. As for the ducks, photo was taken in the same place, I think they might be Teals. The gull pic was taken when I was out sailing on the Puget Sound. Any input would be appreciated, thanks.

 

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Last edited: Oct 24, 2005

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Oct 24, 2005

• #2

hi tayler,
the right hand sandpiper is a sanderling too, the peep seems to be a western sand,
as for the gull i'm inclined to mew gull and the ducks, well, they may be green-winged teals, but look somewhat longnecked to me, hard to say from that pic.

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Oct 24, 2005

• #3

Would favour California Gull rather than Mew. Looks quite long-billed.

I'd agree with Western Sandpiper. Not sure about the teal.

 

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Oct 24, 2005

• #4

Tayler, I don't suppose you have any more pics of the gull? Lou may be right about Mew Gull, but the bill looks a bit too heavy and too long to me. Mantle looks pretty dark, so I'm inclined towards California Gull.

I take it you know your Glaucous-winged Gulls well enough. How did this bird strike you as different? (Size, build, colours etc)

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Oct 24, 2005

• #5

yes, can be california on bill length, esp. since there seems to be some bigger markings to billtip. just thought the prim pattern is wrong for california and fits better mew?

 

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Oct 24, 2005

• #6

Concerning the Ducks, with the rather wide white panel in the speculum, GW Teal looks likely, but it is far from a 100% ID.

 

atricapillus

Well-known member

• Oct 24, 2005

• #7

Progne Subis said:

The sandpiper photo was taken on the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washinton. I know the two on the left are Sanderlings, it's the other two which have me a bit boggled. As for the ducks, photo was taken in the same place, I think they might be Teals. The gull pic was taken when I was out sailing on the Puget Sound. Any input would be appreciated, thanks.

Click to expand...

_________________________________________
These fall into the realm of almost identifiable.
1.) I agree that these are 3 Sanderling and a Western
2.) I suspect from the longish nature of the bill, and not too obvious white trailing edge to mantle that this could be a California
3.) The white borders to the speculum on the two rightmost birds remind me of Mallard, but the pics are pretty fuzzy. They all look about the same size, so wouldn't expect the left two to be teal.
CHEERS, JOE G

 

Progne Subis

Bird is the word...

• Oct 24, 2005

• #8

Hi everyone,

Thanks for sharing your opinions so promptly. About the Gull, I think you might be right about it being a California because of the dark wingtips and mantle as well as the bill shape, but I really don't have any other photos of it from a different angle, just another picture from the back side. So I know the pic is pretty much the same as the first one, but maybe it can help. Also, I believe all of you are right about the IDs of the Sandpipers and the ducks, I was uncertain of their identities at first so my suspicions are now confirmed.

 

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B

Bubbs

Well-known member

• Oct 24, 2005

• #9

Progne Subis said:

The sandpiper photo was taken on the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washinton. I know the two on the left are Sanderlings, it's the other two which have me a bit boggled. As for the ducks, photo was taken in the same place, I think they might be Teals. The gull pic was taken when I was out sailing on the Puget Sound. Any input would be appreciated, thanks.

Click to expand...

This photo is perfect in illustrating 'size illusion'...notice how large the right-hand bird is compared to the two on the left.

John.

 

B

Bubbs

Well-known member

• Oct 24, 2005

• #10

john barclay said:

This photo is perfect in illustrating 'size illusion'...notice how large the right-hand bird is compared to the two on the left.

John.

Click to expand...

Even tho the two on the right are turned away from the camera they do, to my eye, give the impression of being smaller.

John.

 

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Oct 24, 2005

• #11

Even more inclined towards California Gull now.

 

JANJ

Well-known member

• Oct 24, 2005

• #12

Definitely not a Mew Gull, with that bill/tip and shape of the bird. I´m also in the California Gull camp, but would which for a better view of the gull before I can reach a conclusion.
JanJ

 

Progne Subis

Bird is the word...

• Oct 26, 2005

• #13

Thanks again for helping everyone.

 

D

David Lukas

Member

• Oct 26, 2005

• #14

The gull looks very good for a California Gull, it has the right gray color on the upperparts, right head shape, and right bill shape (and has the right mark on the lower mandible). Hard to imagine what else it would be.

And I'd guess I'd lean towards Western Sandpiper on the first photo, but the bird just seems so darn small compared to the Sanderlings. Could it be a Least, especially since it's on the upper beach away from water?

David Lukas
WhatBird.com