2 Clearwater Florida Shorebirds, April 2011

brianjtaylor1 · Friday 8th April 2011, 16:40

Spent about an hour on the Clearwater Memorial Causeway in Florida this sunday morning and found two shorebirds I can't seem to figure out. My search found the first is a Black-bellied Plover and the other is a Willet maybe? The willet bill is thicker in most pics though. I can't remember any flight info for either. Any idea? Thanks all, I'm new here.

Jim M. · Friday 8th April 2011, 16:45

Welcome to the forum! Black-bellied Plover is correct for the first and the second looks good for Greater Yellowlegs.

Best,
Jim

BuckeyeAZ · Friday 8th April 2011, 16:58

1. Grey ( = black-bellied) plover.
2. Willet: too fat/solid-looking for greaterlegs; legs, errm, not yellow! ;-)

Jim M. · Friday 8th April 2011, 17:06

Any more photos of bird 2? Bill appears too thin and pointed for Willet, as OP suggests, but it might just be the angle. Though eyering and dark lore also suggests yellowlegs.

Best,
Jim

brianjtaylor1 · Friday 8th April 2011, 17:32

wow, you guys are quick. thanks...
I didn't notice yellow legs but there was a shadow. Maybe these help?

Steve Schoech · Friday 8th April 2011, 18:40

My first impression was willet, but I too had a question due to the lack of heft of the bill. But, methinks that's what it is as from the follow-up photos there's no hint of yellow in the legs and the gray seems too uniform for yellowlegs... a skinny-billed willet!

csanchez7 · Friday 8th April 2011, 19:44

#2 is definitely a Willet. It is too bulky for Greater Yellowlegs.

Carlos

Jim M. · Friday 8th April 2011, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianjtaylor1

wow, you guys are quick. thanks...
I didn't notice yellow legs but there was a shadow. Maybe these help?

1st new photo might not be the same bird--note also the lighting is different.

In any event, the bird in question in the original second photo looks to be a Frankenbird--the head of a Greater Yellowlegs and the body of a Willet.

The body is probably the more reliable mark with this quality of photo, so I'll go along with the Willet crowd at this stage.

Best,
Jim

Friday 8th April 2011, 16:40	#1
brianjtaylor1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: MD Posts: 2	2 Clearwater Florida Shorebirds, April 2011 Spent about an hour on the Clearwater Memorial Causeway in Florida this sunday morning and found two shorebirds I can't seem to figure out. My search found the first is a Black-bellied Plover and the other is a Willet maybe? The willet bill is thicker in most pics though. I can't remember any flight info for either. Any idea? Thanks all, I'm new here. Attached Thumbnails

Friday 8th April 2011, 16:45	#2
Jim M. Choose Civility Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Posts: 6,753	Welcome to the forum! Black-bellied Plover is correct for the first and the second looks good for Greater Yellowlegs. Best, Jim __________________ My Micro 4/3 birds & wildlife photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/albums
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Friday 8th April 2011, 16:58	#3
BuckeyeAZ Just this bloke, you know Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In the UK Posts: 834	1. Grey ( = black-bellied) plover. 2. Willet: too fat/solid-looking for greaterlegs; legs, errm, not yellow! ;-) Last edited by BuckeyeAZ : Friday 8th April 2011 at 17:00.

Friday 8th April 2011, 17:06	#4
Jim M. Choose Civility Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Posts: 6,753	Any more photos of bird 2? Bill appears too thin and pointed for Willet, as OP suggests, but it might just be the angle. Though eyering and dark lore also suggests yellowlegs. Best, Jim __________________ My Micro 4/3 birds & wildlife photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/albums Last edited by Jim M. : Friday 8th April 2011 at 17:13.
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Friday 8th April 2011, 17:32	#5
brianjtaylor1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: MD Posts: 2	wow, you guys are quick. thanks... I didn't notice yellow legs but there was a shadow. Maybe these help? Attached Thumbnails

Friday 8th April 2011, 18:40	#6
Steve Schoech Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,232	My first impression was willet, but I too had a question due to the lack of heft of the bill. But, methinks that's what it is as from the follow-up photos there's no hint of yellow in the legs and the gray seems too uniform for yellowlegs... a skinny-billed willet! __________________ Steve Schoech Emeritus Professor (Bio. Sci.) [url="http://umpeople.memphis.edu/sschoech"]

Friday 8th April 2011, 19:44	#7
csanchez7 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,536	#2 is definitely a Willet. It is too bulky for Greater Yellowlegs. Carlos

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