Shorebirds at OBX
I’ve had a lot of fun trying to capture shorebirds around the Outer Banks in the past month, but many times it was quite challenging trying to ID them in their non-breeding plumage, especially if shot at a distance.
Those interested in a great shorebird ID book, I recommend “The Shorebird Guide” (O’Brien, Crossley, Karlson). Also any help you can obtain from a pro-birder is a plus. (thanks HJ! Avian101)
Now on with the shorebirds. (And three new lifers for me!)
Killdeer (a plover)
Semipalmated Plover
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Herring Gull (juvenile)
Forster’s Tern
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper (new lifer #215)
Stilt Sandpipers (new lifer #216)
Greater Yellowlegs
Long-billed Dowitcher (new lifer #217)
Marbled Godwits and Willets
Close-up Marbled Godwits (pink/black bills) and Willets
Marbled Godwits and Lesser Yellowlegs
And finally, a funny shot of a Sanderling kicking sand, chasing another away from his little area.
Sanderlings – “This is my beach turf!”
A good work with all the plovers, they are not easy, chasing around all the time.
Thank you, Hans! Yes, they do ‘run’ from you! 😉
Goodness. The lifer list grows. They are all cute, cute birds. I like the pinkish bills and the yellow legs. You go, girl!
Thanks Vic! You have fine-lookin’ birds in your state! 🙂
We do have some cuties! ❤
So many different birds and all great shots! Congratulations Donna.
Thank you, Mike!
All fabulous shots of so many shorebirds!
Thank you, Hien! They were every where, and I know I ‘missed’ some cool ones. 😉
Wow! Amazing pictures! We saw a killdeer family here in June but they were chasing their three chicks around so much that it was impossible to get a good picture. I love the one you got. I’ve never seen a greater yellowlegs before, love that picture, too. Thank you for the visual treat today. 🙂
Thank you very much, Barbara! How lucky to see a Killdeer family, I always think the little chicks look like cotton balls on stilts. 😊 And yellowlegs truly do live up to their name!
So true, the little chicks did look like cotton balls on stilts! 🙂
Really nice you were able to include so many species. Great series.
Thanks Ted! It was fun to see what I could find AND identify in a few weeks. 🙂
Awesome clicks.. as always 🙂
Thank you, Jyothi! 🙂
Donna, these are fantastic! Kudos to you for seeing AND identifying so many different shorebirds. I’ll have to check out that bird book. Anytime I take photos of shorebirds they all look so similar that I give up trying to ID many of them. You’ve done your homework AND gotten some great pictures. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Susan! It’s a little work but rewarding when you can positively ID a new lifer with a photo to prove it! 🙂
Beautiful series of images Donna! Enjoyed seeing them!
Thank you, Reed!
Another three, no stopping you now! Strangely those three I’ve seen over here but there is some in your shots I would love to get on my list.
Thanks, Brian! 💃 We see others and just dream of seeing for ourselves, just once, I know what you mean!
A good sample of the shorebirds, Donna. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Isabel, it was fun trying to see how many I could collect. 🙂
I love the Caspian Tern with it’s slicked back do 😊. All impressive, Donna!
Cool dude! 😉 hehe
Thank you, Belinda!
All beautiful captures Donna, you are certainly having a shorebird feast !
Thank you, Ashley! There were so many, I loved a spot I found to get closer to some of them. 🙂
It’s obvious that you’ve just hit the mother load! Three lifers!!!
All kidding aside, congratulations my good friend Donna. Great captures all. 🙂
Thank you, HJ! Including your help on IDing, my friend!! 😊
I meant to write: “motherlode”
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Thanks!
Another fine selection of treats for your readers. Thank you.
Thank you, Tom, for your visits and comments!
Impressive photos and IDs, Donna. I’m hopeless at IDing many birds, like shore birds and warblers. My attention to detail is sadly lacking!
Thank you, Eliza! I still a ‘learner’ too, so many can look so much alike; in a fleeting moment I don’t know how one can ID them either without a photo! 🙂
I love all of them! I am very happy you could see and photograph some lifers too! ❤
Thank you, Takami! 💃 It was exciting to see new birds and take on the challenge of capturing them!
Say what you will about 2020 being nuts, but it’s been a stellar birding year for you! Congratulations on the new Lifers!
The images are beautiful!
Thank you, Deborah! 💃 We have been fortunate to travel while staying safe, and setting up in this location for migration to funnel through was very cool!
your a true birder Donna!
Thanks, Wayne!
Will I EVER get caught up on blog visiting??? Seems I fell behind this past month or so, making catch up (ketchup?) rather difficult. Shorebirds are definite favorites around here, too! I’m glad I didn’t miss out on this post. I truly enjoyed it! ❤