I have a mystery of identification – not a mystery bird, simply hopeless skills at IDing waders.
I am at the Moruya River, north bank, where the road crosses a bridge separating the river from a large lagoon. There is a stretch of swampy grassland where herons, ibises and other common such birds are seen (including today a White-necked Heron).
But today, moving around and feeding in the grassland were seven waders of one species which have me stumped. The characteristics include:
· Generally sandy or light brown colour on head, neck and breast with black-centred feathers on back and wings
· Black, straight bill a bit shorter than the head
· Large black eyes
· Prominent white eyebrow which, for some birds, seemed to curl around behind the eye almost to the neck
· Front on, the eyes seemed to bulge with prominent white ridges above
· Indistinct white patch of plumage around base of bill
· Lightly streaked breast giving way to light-coloured belly
· Crown was light brown, slightly ruddy, for most birds but one was clearly more strongly marked and had the suggestion of dark streaking on the crown
· Legs were, I think, a light colour rather than black (all the birds were walking in grass up to their flanks, so it was hard to see the legs)
· Hard to guess the length, but my best shot is about 20cm
· No calling.
I tried to convince myself that they were Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, but the birds were all clearly a slightly ruddy light brown, perhaps tan, rather than grey.
Ideas?
David Rosalky
