Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge-Brigantine Unit 6-8-13
While at the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge we saw 76 species of birds. Of those, 5 were in the group of small shorebirds collectively known as “peeps.” I will tell you right off that I am not a peeps expert. Shorebirds can be notoriously difficult to identify with subtle differences in plumage and a constant change from winter to breeding plumage and back again. I think that the birds pictured are semipalmated sandpipers, but I am not sure. These are all the photos I have of this species. If I have one regret from this trip, it is that I did not take more photos! What was I thinking! Who knows when I will ever get back here again. So, if you have any suggestions, tell me what you think and why. I need to learn. I need to get better. I am trying. There is one shot below with a sandpiper that looks a bit different up in the upper right-hand corner. Can you find it?
Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is also an eBird Hotspot.
Many thanks to Rick Wright and his expertise.
Sandpipers seen at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge on June 8, 2013:
- Black-bellied Plover
- Semipalmated Plover
- Semipalmated Sandpiper
- Dunlin
- Ruddy Turnstone
Update: What I do know is that none of the birds in the above photos is any of the other 4 species mentioned above. The other 4 species would be easier to identify. So, by default these must be semipalmated sandpipers, but I am still wondering…
HI Kisthie I have never seen a Semipalmated Sandpiper so I cannot tell if these are they but th photos look good.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I forgot to mention that I know none of the birds in the photos are dunlins, ruddy turnstones or semipalmated plovers!
DeleteGreat place to bird watch Kathie!
ReplyDeleteDenise, Definitely! I would love to go back again!
DeleteI live at the shore and struggle with id's!! As a matter of fact, I was paddling in some mud flats just yesterday and need to import my pics so I can sit with my books! Nice shots!
ReplyDeleteKaHolly, I keep trying. It's funny how the birds never look like the ones in the books when it comes to shorebirds!
DeleteHi Kathie. According to my memory and a thumb thro' my copy of Sibley I believe they are Semipalmated Sandpipers. Black legs, short bill, dark cap and fairly uniform scaly plumage. They can be very variable and could be confused with Western Sandpipers but they, of course, have greenish-yellow legs.
ReplyDeleteBTW the previous post definitely reminded me of my visit to Brigantine 10 years ago. Would love to go back there one day.
Frank, you've been to Brig? How wonderful! BTW, I think westerns have black legs but the least have yellow-green legs. By process of elimination I have concluded those have to be the semipalms!
DeleteIt's fun to try and find the bird in your photos! They are so well camouflaged!
ReplyDeleteSheila, yes they are!
DeleteI don't often get to see waders of any kind and I have to scan all the books if I photograph any Kathie. You got some decent shots though.
ReplyDeleteRoy, they are semipalmated sandpipers, but I have so little experience with them that it just put me off. We get Least and Westerns more out here and when I lived in Massachusetts I was always seeing sanderlings!
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