The description fits many species of waders and there could well be more than one species involved. I suggest the first question to ask is: which books have
you checked to get an initial idea?
Philip
From: Canberrabirds [
On Behalf Of Kim Farley via Canberrabirds
Sent: Tuesday, 9 March, 2021 8:23 AM
To: ; Canberra birds
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Trivial coastal bird ID from an occasional watcher
Hi DN
My thought is that a group of that number, that sort of size, and active in their movements were likely Curlew Sandpipers. They have the dark trailing edge to the wing. Another possibility of about the same size and superficially similar
from a distance is the Sharp tailed Sandpiper. These two species are often seen in the same place so both were probably there. Their bill is a bit shorter and straight. Even more active in their movements but much smaller are Red necked Stints - but tiny
compared to a Gull. Bigger than all of the above are the Godwits but they have very long bills which you would have seen clearly I think.
Flocks of up to 40 or so I'd say. Bills long enough to dig in the sand but too far away to be sure. Definitely smaller than a Silver Gull.
DN
On 8 Mar 2021, at 7:06 pm, Kim Farley <> wrote:
Long bill? Shortish bill? How big compared to a Silver Gull? And you say fairly large flocks. Is that 10 birds or 30 or maybe 50?
On the sand flats in the inlet in Merimbula at low tide, fairly large flocks of small-medium wading birds, digging in the sand. Too far away to see clearly, but they had dark heads and backs, white underwing
with a black strip along the trailing edge of the wing feathers. They tended to trot fairly rapidly back and forth, then flew off in a flock.
I doubt this is an exotic observation, but the iPhone birds app was unclear.
ID help appreciated.
DN
|
ATT00001.txt
Description: ATT00001.txt
|
