Ok i'm holding my hands up and admitting I'm absolutely rubbish at Shorebirds. Sparrows no problem, fall warblers - easy - but Peeps are a nightmare in my opinion (not overly keen on medium sized Terns either if we're honest).
Anyway this year I decided to face my fears and try and identify some of the little buggers - unfortunately the best time to do this is in fall here when you get all the juvie and molting birds. I think i'm doing ok but as of yet I'm only seeing least and semipal sandpipers - and i'm wondsering if i'm just missing stuff.
I've been doing all the background reading I can (so much so it seems even more confusing now than when I started) but I'm wondering what tips or advice people would offer on identifying these birds. Bill seems important, Bare parts and little hints in plummage are useful but what else are people looking for. Anybody have any general advice on how to approach identifying these birds.
Many thanks - Luke
Anyway this year I decided to face my fears and try and identify some of the little buggers - unfortunately the best time to do this is in fall here when you get all the juvie and molting birds. I think i'm doing ok but as of yet I'm only seeing least and semipal sandpipers - and i'm wondsering if i'm just missing stuff.
I've been doing all the background reading I can (so much so it seems even more confusing now than when I started) but I'm wondering what tips or advice people would offer on identifying these birds. Bill seems important, Bare parts and little hints in plummage are useful but what else are people looking for. Anybody have any general advice on how to approach identifying these birds.
Many thanks - Luke