I have been to Morattico a couple of times this year, about 8 total since
last November. I have recorded 66 species over that time. One day I was
lucky enough to record over 30 species. Today I literally spent an hour
looking at 7 or 8 Shore birds, trying to figure out what they were. Turns
out, I was able to determine the largest one to be a Greater Yellowlegs.
From there the next 4 were difficult. Two of them were slightly different
than the other two. So there was at least 2 Lesser Yellowlegs and then 2
more Solitary Sandpipers. One the small end of the shorebirds I was easily
able to identify a Spotted Sandpiper, the other was harder. Somewhere
after 45 minutes they stood relatively close enough to make a size
determination. The Spotted was ever so bigger than the littlest one.
Which puts it in the peep category. Nothing like trying to define detail
on 6 to 7 inch bird 50 yards away. Did I mention they were little brown
things. Ruling out Least Sandpipers due to dark legs, I settled on
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Grainy photos didn't help, but the process of
identifying one for sure made it possible to identify the rest.
Of all them, the Spotted Sandpiper with it's bobbing rump locomotion was
the easiest. It was also key to sizing up the one smaller than it. At 7
inches, anything smaller is a "Peep." I my have went with Western
Sandpiper, but that would have been a stretch in Virginia and they are
similar looking little brown birds.
The bigger birds were harder until I got a goood look at the Greater
Yellowlegs. The upswing looking bill and yellow legs made that id easy
enough. The other four were similar in size and standing in water that
covered most of there legs. Two of them appeared smaller and had
pronounced white eye rings. As they moved down the long puddle of standing
water the Lesser Yellowlegs became apparent and the smaller bird with the
white eye ring was an easy leap from there. So the hour was well spent,
with scope, three different ID books and 10x binos. Turned out to be a
great day of birding, 25 species, 2 hours spent in the sunshine. Talked
with two residents of the area and walked around for about 1.25 miles.
Joe
Attachment:
DSC00223 (2).JPG
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
DSC00224 (2).JPG
Description: JPEG image
