tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post7153875482688204316..comments2024-03-27T06:48:56.874-05:00Comments on The Brownstone Birding Blog: Shorebirds At Rocky Hill MeadowsLarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17955054342034509500noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-19653562961216969522008-09-20T14:35:00.000-05:002008-09-20T14:35:00.000-05:00Kathiebirds-Hairy Woodpeckers seem more obvious no...Kathiebirds-Hairy Woodpeckers seem more obvious now.I'm aware of that fieldmark you speak of but I'm going to make a point of comparing the markings and lack of on the downy and hairy.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17955054342034509500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-23983323908733520162008-09-20T14:33:00.000-05:002008-09-20T14:33:00.000-05:00gallicissa-Glad you were able to enjoy the post an...gallicissa-Glad you were able to enjoy the post and that is a good technique you use to get closer to birds.-It takes some discipline to stay in one spot for a while if you are someone who likes to move around like me.-I'm starting to get better at staying in ome spot though.<BR/><BR/>pa-birder-Good to hear from you-I do have a kind of id game that I play on the computer once in a while.-I also have the book you speak of but almost never use it.-I just can't connect with the philosophy of the book.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17955054342034509500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-71629473746909597092008-09-05T19:38:00.000-05:002008-09-05T19:38:00.000-05:00Larry, this is an exellent and informative post. ...Larry, this is an exellent and informative post. I like how you try to educate your readers as well as yourself. Shorebirds are such a challenge and I have not seen some that you write about here. As for the Downy/Hairy ID, I have found it helpful to look for the black cross-hatching on the white side tail feathers of Downies. Hairy woodpeckers do not have these. Like you, I found it a challenge until I saw the 2 species together. Since then it has not been so hard.Kathie Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10377224759599266209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-38112225770546500882008-08-30T01:42:00.000-05:002008-08-30T01:42:00.000-05:00Hi Larry,Long time no e! I too am currently workin...Hi Larry,<BR/>Long time no e! I too am currently working on shorebird ID. There is a great website where you can test yourself and learn a lot in the process. Go to http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/4413/sb_quiz.html you can always skid the non U.S. pictures. I have also found "The Shorebird Guide" byO'Brien, Corssley and Karlson" to be a wonderful resource. Hope life is treating you well. Taking a week's briding trip up to New England in early November. Anything your way worth the stop?<BR/>VernAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-68406246265693032582008-08-25T12:24:00.000-05:002008-08-25T12:24:00.000-05:00Hi Larry,Most of those shorebirds are utterly new ...Hi Larry,<BR/>Most of those shorebirds are utterly new to me but that didn't prevent me from enjoying this post. <BR/><BR/>I like to get closer to the flocks of shorebirds using advance-stop-scan tecnique taking a bit of time with each stop to let the birds get used to our presence and using that time to scan thoroughly. <BR/><BR/>After a while the flocks of shorebirds get used to you and on my last tour, I was able to get 15m from a flock, which was a nice distance to work with with my 20-60x scope.Amila Salgadohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05607756343837325575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-43426198077270536822008-08-19T18:28:00.000-05:002008-08-19T18:28:00.000-05:00Thanks John- It's true percentages work in favor o...Thanks John- It's true percentages work in favor of Least Sandpiper if inland.<BR/><BR/>ruth-I guess it's like doing a crossword puzzle that's too difficult to finish.-It can be frustrating but you still feel compelled to work on it.<BR/><BR/>lana-thanks-I guess you could always take a vacation along the shore if you get to missing shorebirds enough.<BR/><BR/>jayne-I'm not in a position to be giving shorebird lessons to anyone jayne.I am trying to learn and have fun at the same time.-If I try to hard it won't be fun anymore.<BR/><BR/>Mary C.-I really do appreciate the solitary's eye ring.-At least it's onethat isn't to difficult to identify.-Relying on color for identification can really put you on the wrong track sometimes.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17955054342034509500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-52045293538039711492008-08-19T12:09:00.000-05:002008-08-19T12:09:00.000-05:00Larry, you've done such a great job with this post...Larry, you've done such a great job with this post. I think I'm gonna bookmark this so I can check back on the sandpiper IDs you provided. I like how you showed two photos of the solitary sandpiper noting how coloring can be different due to lighting changes. But at least I did take note of the beautiful large eyes and white eye ring - that seemed to be a very noticeable characteristic for this bird. Great shots and great commentary. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. BTW, I'm still a beginner, too, especially when it comes to shorebirds.Mary Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08077077785157768787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-34122888649355791352008-08-18T05:30:00.000-05:002008-08-18T05:30:00.000-05:00What a great lesson in shore birds Larry! I don't ...What a great lesson in shore birds Larry! I don't often see them either and so ID would be very difficult for me too. Great photos!Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14057094040409159429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-47869460381666225452008-08-18T02:21:00.000-05:002008-08-18T02:21:00.000-05:00I miss shore birds. Not a lot of shore birds where...I miss shore birds. Not a lot of shore birds where there's not much of a shore, y'know? And the marshes & swamps here are great hiding places for so many birds. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos!Lana Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975996208260144558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-85252686222062275732008-08-17T20:20:00.000-05:002008-08-17T20:20:00.000-05:00You have some excellent pictures. Shorebirds are a...You have some excellent pictures. Shorebirds are arriving in our area and I have a number of pictures I cannot ID. Juveniles muddy the picture even more for me. The Spotted Sandpiper and Kildeer nest around here and all the others just migrate through.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15892804871759397018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147631697089273467.post-86370493412450580612008-08-17T20:14:00.000-05:002008-08-17T20:14:00.000-05:00Good post. I find that if I see a small peep away ...Good post. I find that if I see a small peep away from water or inland, that it is usually a least sandpiper. It's not a diagnostic field mark, though, just a clue.John B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00163297234733313179noreply@blogger.com