Ducks, Snipes, and Shanks - Taipei, Taiwan (1 Viewer)

[floodlelandbirder]

I decided to collate these distant and mostly poor wetland bird photos into one ID thread.

At first I thought this was another female Spot-billed Duck, but upon review it seems to have the distinct facial lines of a Garganey, and no orange tip. The second photo is a possible Mareca, if so I could attempt to dig-up other photos. More location info with the inaturalist upload: Garganey (Spatula querquedula)






Next up is what seems to be two painted-snipe like birds amongst a flock of (what I'm assuming are) Common Snipe. I'm not quite seeing all the proper markings for painted snipe, but the belly is quite white and head quite ruddy for both. iNat again: Old World Painted-snipes (Genus Rostratula), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)





I think these are Green Sandpiper? (iNat: Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus))




Lastly, this seems to be a Common Greenshank, standing quite tall, with a narrow bill (iNat: Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia))




Thanks for any help! Being completely fresh to Eurasian birding I really do appreciate it.

 

[THE_FERN]

They must be painted snipes. Other snipe probably not id-able.

The sandpipers are all common Greenshank I think, including the last. That seems to have a thin bill (like marsh sand) but I think this is a photo artifact. Bill is upturned and the body portly

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Garganey indeed for the first

They must be painted snipes. Other snipe probably not id-able.

The sandpipers are all common Greenshank I think, including the last. That seems to have a thin bill (like marsh sand) but I think this is a photo artifact. Bill is upturned and the body portly

I'm unsure about the snipe (I've still not seen Painted snipe) but agree with this. Garganey for the first too.

 

[THE_FERN]

I wonder if second isn't teal; generally wrong colour, perhaps shape for wigeon (but poor image)

I don't think there's any other candidate wader than painted snipe with that colouration

 

[dwatsonbirder]

I wonder if second isn't teal; generally wrong colour, perhaps shape for wigeon (but poor image)

Yes, I hadn't realised there more more images in the link - these give better context and you are correct - note white feathering to side of tail also 👍🏼

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

They must be painted snipes. Other snipe probably not id-able.

The sandpipers are all common Greenshank I think, including the last. That seems to have a thin bill (like marsh sand) but I think this is a photo artifact. Bill is upturned and the body portly

There are no Greater Painted Snipe in the image, underwing and underpart patterns completely wrong + all birds lack obvious leg projections.

The first 2 birds are readily id-able as Commons owing to combination of clear white trailing edge to wing + short toe projection. The last 2 birds likely Commons too, short toe projection the last bird also appearing to show white trailing edge, the buff ventral area is somewhat exaggerated/artefact.
ML622669513 - Common Snipe - Macaulay Library

Grahame

 

[THE_FERN]

There are no Greater Painted Snipe in the image, underwing and underpart patterns completely wrong + all birds lack obvious leg projections.

The first 2 birds are readily id-able as Commons owing to combination of clear white trailing edge to wing + short toe projection. The last 2 birds likely Commons too, short toe projection the last bird also appearing to show white trailing edge, the buff ventral area is somewhat exaggerated/artefact.
ML622669513 - Common Snipe - Macaulay Library

Grahame

I guess this is right but I've never seen a snipe that looked snowy white underneath like this, and nor have I seen artifacts that produce a similar effect [they didn't look like painted snipe but as I said I couldn't see what else they could be given this]

 

[johnallcock]

I agree with Grahame - these are not Painted-snipe. As well as the points he made, dark undertail is wrong.
Compare: ML626650596 - Greater Painted-Snipe - Macaulay Library ML626308761 - Greater Painted-Snipe - Macaulay Library
They look fine for Common Snipe to me. The white belly isn't a problem - Common Snipe are quite white below, but this may not always be obvious, and I think the lighting emphasises it here.

The duck in the first photo is a Garganey. I think the 2nd photo is a female Teal (I notice from the iNat link that these are in a flock with other Teal). It's a hard photo to ID, but lacks the face pattern and seems to have the wrong flank pattern for Garganey. I can't see this as any Mareca - Wigeon and Gadwall don't fit on bill shape/colour and the proportions look wrong for Falcated.

Common Greenshank for all the Tringas.

I've added IDs for all these links in iNat for you.

 

[floodlelandbirder]

I agree with Grahame - these are not Painted-snipe. As well as the points he made, dark undertail is wrong.
Compare: ML626650596 - Greater Painted-Snipe - Macaulay Library ML626308761 - Greater Painted-Snipe - Macaulay Library
They look fine for Common Snipe to me. The white belly isn't a problem - Common Snipe are quite white below, but this may not always be obvious, and I think the lighting emphasises it here.

The duck in the first photo is a Garganey. I think the 2nd photo is a female Teal (I notice from the iNat link that these are in a flock with other Teal). It's a hard photo to ID, but lacks the face pattern and seems to have the wrong flank pattern for Garganey. I can't see this as any Mareca - Wigeon and Gadwall don't fit on bill shape/colour and the proportions look wrong for Falcated.

Common Greenshank for all the Tringas.

I've added IDs for all these links in iNat for you.

Thank you!