Shorebirds & Loon, Northern CA, Jan 2024 (1 Viewer)

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

1. Dunlin, or short-billed dowitcher? Or something else? I am leaning towards short-billed dowitcher because the bill lacks curvature. From Petaluma, CA

2&3 are of the same bird. Pacific Loon? The lack of white on the back and the fine bill make it seem right. From Bodega Bay, CA

 

[Butty]

CAlifornia, not CAnada, I suspect.
Filenames:
2-3. Red-throated loon: fine bill with uptilted lower mandible, finely-speckled upper body.
1. Yes (no idea about dowitcher
species).

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

Thanks @Butty , California. Any takers on the shorebird?

 

[01101001]

With a bill this long, I don't think they're Dunlins. Are photos 2 and 3 of the same bird? The bill in photo 3 looks more symmetrical.

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

With a bill this long, I don't think they're Dunlins. Are photos 2 and 3 of the same bird? The bill in photo 3 looks more symmetrical.

I think 2 and 3 are the same. There were not many birds in the water that day. Another bird could have snuck up from underwater, but it is unlikely.

 

[THE_FERN]

Dowitchers. Difficult to be sure which. However, bills on some birds are extremely long (e.g. left hand bird) suggesting long-billed

 

[tom baxter]

Look like Long-billed Dowitchers, and in Petaluma they would be more common than Short-billed. Short-billed is unlikely unless on expansive tidal mudflats along the edges of the bay.