May is a great shorebird month

Larger SandpipersBy Jim Stevenson
Attached please find a continuation of the peep theme we’ve been on this week, as May is a great shorebird month. I worked especially hard on this one and I think it’ll be quite valuable to beginner and advanced. We could still use more people for tomorrow’s Tallow Tree work in the morning, and a shorebird run to San Luis Pass after lunch. Meet at the cul-de-sac at 8 am. Bring cutting tools if you have them.

We lost a participant in the Great Plains/Rockies trip and I’d like to replace her. It’s ten days, $2400, it runs from North Dakota to the Great Salt Lake, and we’ll be in my Chevy Trailblazer. Lemme know if interested.

We had a Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher in the yard yesterday and today, so if you’re around this weekend, watch for it! Reddish in wings and tail and yellowish underneath with dark streaks. Really crappy picture attached.

 

Dunlins (right) and Sander lings (left) are of equal size and are very useful in ascertaining the size and identity of other shorebirds. They are larger than peeps (remember your PDF on peeps) but smaller than dowitchers, knots, black-bellies and a few others. They are also the same size as several of the “ringed” plovers (see Semipalmated behind them), and are abundant enough that they are always around to compare with troublesome species. Dunlins are more on the Bay side (mud flats) and Sanderlings are more common on the Gulf beaches. And obviously, these two are well along into breeding plumage, with the Sanderling getting its brownish back and the Dunlin, its red back and black belly. The Dunlins have a longer, droopy bill than the Sanderling.

Dunlins (right) and Sander lings (left) are of equal size and are very useful in ascertaining
the size and identity of other shorebirds. They are larger than peeps (remember your PDF
on peeps) but smaller than dowitchers, knots, black-bellies and a few others. They are
also the same size as several of the “ringed” plovers (see Semipalmated behind them),
and are abundant enough that they are always around to compare with troublesome
species. Dunlins are more on the Bay side (mud flats) and Sanderlings are more common
on the Gulf beaches. And obviously, these two are well along into breeding plumage,
with the Sanderling getting its brownish back and the Dunlin, its red back and black
belly. The Dunlins have a longer, droopy bill than the Sanderling.

 

We only have one breeding plover and one sandpiper* in our area, and the plover is the Killdeer. They are tiny replicas of their parents, racing around fields and lawns, trying to avoid cats and dogs. *We also have breeding stilts, in a separate family. Fact is, most of our shorebirds go well north of here, w/ the majority of sandpipers nesting in the Arctic.

We only have one breeding plover and one sandpiper* in our area, and the plover is the
Killdeer. They are tiny replicas of their parents, racing around fields and lawns, trying to
avoid cats and dogs. *We also have breeding stilts, in a separate family. Fact is, most of
our shorebirds go well north of here, w/ the majority of sandpipers nesting in the Arctic.

 

Let’s look at some of these sandpipers. Long-billed Dowitchers are very similar to the short-bills but have black barr ing on the front flanks instead of the black dots SBs have. Of course, long-bills are usually in freshwater (L for “lakes”) and short-bills are more often along the mar ine realm (S for “salt”). But by far, the BEST field mark is the calls, which are extremely different. LBs say “eek” and SBs say tu tu.

Let’s look at some of these sandpipers.
Long-billed Dowitchers are very similar to the short-bills but have black barr ing on the
front flanks instead of the black dots SBs have. Of course, long-bills are usually in
freshwater (L for “lakes”) and short-bills are more often along the mar ine realm (S for
“salt”). But by far, the BEST field mark is the calls, which are extremely different. LBs
say “eek” and SBs say tu tu.

 

Beautiful birds, huh? This squadron of SBs is virtually in full breeding plumage, with the black dots quite visible. They often appear less hunchbacked than LBs but sometimes that depends on the posture of the bird. The length of the bill is NOT a good field mark, and besides, there is likely overlap between female SBs and male LBs.

Beautiful birds, huh? This squadron of SBs is virtually in full breeding plumage, with the
black dots quite visible. They often appear less hunchbacked than LBs but sometimes that
depends on the posture of the bird. The length of the bill is NOT a good field mark, and
besides, there is likely overlap between female SBs and male LBs.

 

Here are some SBs in the air and you can see that some are more fully developed below than others. Most sandpipers like dowitchers have long, tapered wings for incredibly fast flight, as many birds that taste good to hawks (like doves and quail) can fly like the wind (even though there is wide variation on the shape of the wings in some).

Here are some SBs in the air and you can see that some are more fully developed below
than others. Most sandpipers like dowitchers have long, tapered wings for incredibly fast
flight, as many birds that taste good to hawks (like doves and quail) can fly like the wind
(even though there is wide variation on the shape of the wings in some).

 

With changing plumage, mistakes are easy to make. The LB in front only has a touch of his black bars, making him look a bit more like a SB. The rear bird is probably a female, as I doubt there are any SBs with beaks that long. And while she has the hunchbacked look of a LB, the front bird’s posture would keep it from appearing humped.

With changing plumage, mistakes are easy to make. The LB in front only has a touch of
his black bars, making him look a bit more like a SB. The rear bird is probably a female,
as I doubt there are any SBs with beaks that long. And while she has the hunchbacked
look of a LB, the front bird’s posture would keep it from appearing humped.

 

Built much like a dowitcher is the Wilson’s Snipe. Their range used to be across the entire Northern Hemisphere when it was the Common Snipe, but now the Americas have their own species, named for Alexander Wilson. [The word “Common” in a name means “common to the Old World and the New.] These, woodcocks and dowitchers all have a tendon running from the forehead to the bill tip that they can flex, clamping the end of the bill shut, like tweezers.

Built much like a dowitcher is the Wilson’s Snipe. Their range used to be across the
entire Northern Hemisphere when it was the Common Snipe, but now the Americas have
their own species, named for Alexander Wilson. [The word “Common” in a name means
“common to the Old World and the New.] These, woodcocks and dowitchers all have a
tendon running from the forehead to the bill tip that they can flex, clamping the end of the
bill shut, like tweezers.

 

Lesser Yellowlegs are long-distance migrants that breed in the Taiga Forest of Canada and northern Alaska. In fall, they head south to the Gulf Coast and then follow the shoreline around to the Tropics, as circum-Gulf migrants. Below is a flock flying past San Luis Pass, heading (as the song says) North, to Alaska.

Lesser Yellowlegs are long-distance migrants that breed in the Taiga Forest of Canada
and northern Alaska. In fall, they head south to the Gulf Coast and then follow the
shoreline around to the Tropics, as circum-Gulf migrants. Below is a flock flying past
San Luis Pass, heading (as the song says) North, to Alaska.

 

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Alan Murphy taught me to attempt shooting birds on the ground from their own level, and immediately I saw how much more pleasing the angle was. This is another Lesser Yellowlegs, this one at Laffite’s Cove. Note how the bill is about the same length as the head, not twice as long like Greaters. They are also more the size of a Killdeer, not as large (almost) as a Willet.

Alan Murphy taught me to attempt shooting birds on the ground from their own level,
and immediately I saw how much more pleasing the angle was. This is another Lesser
Yellowlegs, this one at Laffite’s Cove. Note how the bill is about the same length as the
head, not twice as long like Greaters. They are also more the size of a Killdeer, not as
large (almost) as a Willet.

 

This big boy is the Greater Yellowlegs, a winter resident in the Deep South. A few stay into May before they head north, but not as far as Lessers. We see them in southern Alaska, like Potter Marsh. Golly, I’m gonna miss Alaska this summer! Alan also taught me that water can act as an attractive mirror, so hopefully this picture is a nice reflection on me. ;)

This big boy is the Greater Yellowlegs, a winter resident in the Deep South. A few stay
into May before they head north, but not as far as Lessers. We see them in southern
Alaska, like Potter Marsh. Golly, I’m gonna miss Alaska this summer! Alan also taught
me that water can act as an attractive mirror, so hopefully this picture is a nice reflection
on me. 😉

 

Another bird near the size of dowitchers (perhaps more slender) is Wilson’s Phalaropes, a fairly common spring migrant after mid-April. They have lobed toes like coots & grebes and swim, spin and dab as well as any bird. Recall that the phalaropes are the shorebirds in which females are larger and more colorful, and take a harem of several males. The females migrate first, which may explain why the males won’t stop for directions. Below are some of mixed gender at Brazoria NWR.

Another bird near the size of dowitchers (perhaps more slender) is Wilson’s Phalaropes, a
fairly common spring migrant after mid-April. They have lobed toes like coots & grebes
and swim, spin and dab as well as any bird. Recall that the phalaropes are the shorebirds
in which females are larger and more colorful, and take a harem of several males. The
females migrate first, which may explain why the males won’t stop for directions. Below
are some of mixed gender at Brazoria NWR.

 

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As you can see, Ruddy Turnstones are a tad larger than Sander lings (or Dunlins), and are therefore dominant over the smaller sandpipers. This one is very close to full breeding plumage, while the Sanderling isn’t even close. These two species often pick at dead fish and other carcasses on the beach, and their short bills actually improve scavenging.

As you can see, Ruddy Turnstones are a tad larger than Sander lings (or Dunlins), and are
therefore dominant over the smaller sandpipers. This one is very close to full breeding
plumage, while the Sanderling isn’t even close. These two species often pick at dead fish
and other carcasses on the beach, and their short bills actually improve scavenging.

 

Here’s another turnstone above with a flounder that’s been filleted by a fisherman, and one below that’s about halfway into breeding (alternate) plumage.

Here’s another turnstone above with a flounder that’s been filleted by a fisherman, and
one below that’s about halfway into breeding (alternate) plumage.

 

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Turnstones also run from one clump of grass to another, looking for stranded invertebrate life, as they don’t feed well in the water itself. This is Sargassum Weed, red algae of the Middle Atlantic. Those gas bladders that keep it afloat look like berries! This “sea weed” begins washing in when the south winds become dominant in late April (last year, early May). So it keeps washing in into the summer, though our shorebirds are gone.

Turnstones also run from one clump of grass to another, looking for stranded invertebrate
life, as they don’t feed well in the water itself. This is Sargassum Weed, red algae of the
Middle Atlantic. Those gas bladders that keep it afloat look like berries! This “sea weed”
begins washing in when the south winds become dominant in late April (last year, early
May). So it keeps washing in into the summer, though our shorebirds are gone.

 

A dowitcher-sized sandpiper with a short bill is a Red Knot, and this one is changing color as spring wears on. I often think they should be called the Very Short-billed Dowitcher! They eat a fair number of Coquina, WHICH I ERRONEOUSLY CALLED PERIWINKLES IN MY OTHER SHOREBIRD POST! [Hey, at least I got the Latin name correct! LOL] Periwinkles are, of course, the snails that live on salt marsh grass and eat the bacteria off the plant. They are the genus Littorina.

A dowitcher-sized sandpiper with a short bill is a Red Knot, and this one is changing
color as spring wears on. I often think they should be called the Very Short-billed
Dowitcher! They eat a fair number of Coquina, WHICH I ERRONEOUSLY CALLED
PERIWINKLES IN MY OTHER SHOREBIRD POST! [Hey, at least I got the Latin
name correct! LOL] Periwinkles are, of course, the snails that live on salt marsh grass
and eat the bacteria off the plant. They are the genus Littorina.

 

Found only in freshwater, often in ditches and small ponds, and normally by itself, is the Solitary Sandpiper. They are best identified by their white eyering and dark back with tiny, white spots. When flushed, they make upslurred, whistling notes, and their wings are usually folded further back than most sandpipers.

Found only in freshwater, often in ditches and small ponds, and normally by itself, is the
Solitary Sandpiper. They are best identified by their white eyering and dark back with
tiny, white spots. When flushed, they make upslurred, whistling notes, and their wings
are usually folded further back than most sandpipers.

 

Normally seen in freshwater but recently on marine shores as they migrate, are Spotted Sandpipers. A wary bird that flies with “stiff” wings (also while whistling), the Spotted bobs its entire rear end “endlessly” and loves seawalls and docks. They are quite common in winter, but (this is an old story) they leave early in spring and in a few weeks these later birds pass through from much further south.

Normally seen in freshwater but recently on marine shores as they migrate, are Spotted
Sandpipers. A wary bird that flies with “stiff” wings (also while whistling), the Spotted
bobs its entire rear end “endlessly” and loves seawalls and docks. They are quite common
in winter, but (this is an old story) they leave early in spring and in a few weeks these
later birds pass through from much further south.

 

The well-named Stilt Sandpiper needs its long bill to overcome its long legs! Dowitchers only bend over “halfway” usually so these guys stick out considerably in a crowd. Their rufous cheek is also a good field mark and in the air, the white rump patch is even better. These Arctic nesters are pretty common in late spring and may be seen as circum-Gulf migrants, along with BN Stilts, Lesser YLs, Wilson’s Phalaropes and one other piper I can’t seem to remember right now!

The well-named Stilt Sandpiper needs its long bill to overcome its long legs! Dowitchers
only bend over “halfway” usually so these guys stick out considerably in a crowd. Their
rufous cheek is also a good field mark and in the air, the white rump patch is even better.
These Arctic nesters are pretty common in late spring and may be seen as circum-Gulf
migrants, along with BN Stilts, Lesser YLs, Wilson’s Phalaropes and one other piper I
can’t seem to remember right now!

 

Joined by three Long-billed Dowitchers, these two Stilt Sandpipers on the right were caught in mid-stoop, before they actually sunk their head and neck into the invertebratefill waters. Most of their kind migrate in fall down the Atlantic Ocean, so late spring is about the only time we get them. They are not alone in that regard.

Joined by three Long-billed Dowitchers, these two Stilt Sandpipers on the right were
caught in mid-stoop, before they actually sunk their head and neck into the invertebratefill
waters. Most of their kind migrate in fall down the Atlantic Ocean, so late spring is
about the only time we get them. They are not alone in that regard.

 

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A confirmed grasspiper, the Upland Sandpiper inhabits fields and pastures in much of April, often exciting FeatherFest participants (flocking with Golden Plovers). Being a visual feeder, they have very large eyes, unlike most sandpipers who probe for a living (which they could do blind). You gotta love those Indian Blankets behind the bird (FSU colors!). This is the field Eskimo Curlews were last seen in, on Settegast Road.

A confirmed grasspiper, the Upland Sandpiper inhabits fields and pastures in much of
April, often exciting FeatherFest participants (flocking with Golden Plovers). Being a
visual feeder, they have very large eyes, unlike most sandpipers who probe for a living
(which they could do blind). You gotta love those Indian Blankets behind the bird (FSU
colors!). This is the field Eskimo Curlews were last seen in, on Settegast Road.

 

Like the rare Br istle-thighed Curlew of Alaska, our Whimbrel is easily told by their dark stripes over the crown. They also have a shorter bill than our Long-billed Curlew, and a darker plumage. These are common spring migrants but most migrate down the Atlantic in fall. Curiously, a few winter on oyster bars in Galveston Bay.

Like the rare Br istle-thighed Curlew of Alaska, our Whimbrel is easily told by their dark
stripes over the crown. They also have a shorter bill than our Long-billed Curlew, and a
darker plumage. These are common spring migrants but most migrate down the Atlantic
in fall. Curiously, a few winter on oyster bars in Galveston Bay.

 

For those of you interested in the Willet split, here’s your Eastern Willet right behind a Western Willet – both in full breeding plumage. Note how godwit-like the Western is, lighter gray (not as heavily marked), with a longer, thinner bill and body. Their lighter color suggests the absence of heavy markings, and they are more at home in the water than the Easterns, whose staple diet is fiddler crabs.

For those of you interested in the Willet split, here’s your Eastern Willet right behind a
Western Willet – both in full breeding plumage. Note how godwit-like the Western is,
lighter gray (not as heavily marked), with a longer, thinner bill and body. Their lighter
color suggests the absence of heavy markings, and they are more at home in the water
than the Easterns, whose staple diet is fiddler crabs.

 

Here is a male Eastern Willet, signaling his mate with a lowered tail. They are extremely noisy birds, as reported by me, who hears them all hours of the night in the breeding season. That thicker bill works very effectively on hapless fiddler crabs! These Easterns winter OUT of the US in the Tropics, while Westerns take their place fall through spring on our shores.

Here is a male Eastern Willet, signaling his mate with a lowered tail. They are extremely
noisy birds, as reported by me, who hears them all hours of the night in the breeding
season. That thicker bill works very effectively on hapless fiddler crabs! These Easterns
winter OUT of the US in the Tropics, while Westerns take their place fall through spring
on our shores.

 

Almost the size of Willets is the Greater Yellowlegs, with a bill twice as long as the head. I was taught this year that the sexes are the same size, perhaps the only sandpipers to say that. Even the bills seem to match up, while all Greaters have beaks FAR longer than the Lesser YL bills. But as you learn their field marks better, you will learn to just “know” the species at a glance.

Almost the size of Willets is the Greater Yellowlegs, with a bill twice as long as the head.
I was taught this year that the sexes are the same size, perhaps the only sandpipers to say
that. Even the bills seem to match up, while all Greaters have beaks FAR longer than the
Lesser YL bills. But as you learn their field marks better, you will learn to just “know”
the species at a glance.

 

Here is a decent pictorial summary of the various sizes of sandpipers. Larger birds range in size from the Marbled Godwit (L) to the Willet (middle) to the Greater Yellowlegs on the back right. Medium-sized birds are represented by the two dowitchers just to the right and left of center. Smaller still are seven Dunlins, all still in winter plumage. Lastly, there are two peeps – Western Sandpipers in the middle right. I like that picture! ;) Below are just godwits and dowitchers flying together in breeding plumage.

Here is a decent pictorial summary of the various sizes of sandpipers. Larger birds range
in size from the Marbled Godwit (L) to the Willet (middle) to the Greater Yellowlegs on
the back right. Medium-sized birds are represented by the two dowitchers just to the right
and left of center. Smaller still are seven Dunlins, all still in winter plumage. Lastly, there
are two peeps – Western Sandpipers in the middle right. I like that picture! 😉
Below are just godwits and dowitchers flying together in breeding plumage.

 

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