Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Grey Plover
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Willets
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Long-billed Dowitchers
Least Sandpiper
Surfbird
Black Turnstone
Wilson's Snipe
Spotted Sandpiper
California - November 2009
Waders / Shorebirds: page 4
Long-billed Dowitcher outnumbered Short-billed by far with large flocks present around the Salton Sea with a few present at La Merced, This bird is firstly aged as a first-winter due to the dark shaft streaking to the wing coverts and the darker centred scapulars creating a distinctly patterned appearance; adult winters would be uniformly plain grey with very fine dark shaft streaks and pale feather fringes. The bird is then identified as a Long-billed due to obvious long looking bill with slightly drooping tip, an obvious eye ring, less obvious on Short-billeds, plain tertials lacking notched pattern and location, Long-billed is commoner on inland wetlands than Short-billed.
Another Long-billed Dowitcher from the Salton Sea. Again aged as first-winter due to 'orange-biff' fringed, dark centred scapulars and lesser coverts, note however the newer, plainer adult scapular coming through. The eye-ringed is obvious, especially so beneath the eye, and the tertials are plain with neat plain fringes. The bill has a distinct downward droop.
Note the white patch on the underwing at the lesser coverts. This is a another indicator of Long-billed over Short-billed which has a more uniform, evenly patterned, underwing and generally lacks such an obvious contrast.
The largish flock below was one of many at the Salton Sea.
The rocky coastline of Point Pinos was a gem of a place for several species of wader/shorebird with the best views of Willet obtained here.
The Least Sandpiper above was photographed on the small but productive pool at Obsidian Butte, Salton Sea where three or four birds were present, the nearby beaches held many many more. The bird below was at Moss Landing State Beach right besides the access road where a sizeable flock had gathered. Away from these two areas Least Sandpiper was a common bird on the coast, only a few were seen a La Merced.
As in 2007 Surfbird was a firm favorite being found again along the rocky coast of Point Pinos however unlike 2007 it was easy to find with several small flocks and scattered singletons being noted at various points just beyond the lighthouse. These birds were much fun.
Surfbirds were often found mixed with Black Turnstones.
Apart from a few birds along the coast north of Morro Bay Point Pinos and the rocky coastline of Santa Cruz was the prime locations to find Black Turnstone. The birds depicted here are all from Point Pinos.