cvanbosk

Thanks Alex. The photo doesn't show it well but the speculum was uniformly blue, no white. I've seen lots of mottled ducks and these struck me as such, but Ebird marked it rare so I began doubting myself.

What the heck is the deal with Dunlins? According to Cornell, their size (length) range ranges from 7.1 to 8.7 inches. That's about a 30 percent variation! A quick look through similar shorebirds shows that the normal size variation is typically much smaller. I never paid much attention to this because in my normal birding grounds on the east coast of Florida, dunlins are always smaller than sanderlings. But last weekend I made a trip over to the west coast ... and got real confused. In the photo below, notice the gargantuan bird to the right of the two sanderlings. I desperately tried to convince myself it wasn't a dunlin - but couldn't. It just seems too doggone big. Can someone please put me out of my misery?

Spotted earlier today Happy Thanksgiving, fellow birders. Thanks for your help this year!

Show off! ?

The upturned, longer bill indicates Greater.

In all three, the foreground bird looks like ring-billed. Not sure on the more mottled birds. (probably obvious, and not what you were interested in)

I really appreciate the excellent pointers. Thanks!!!

Osprey

Thanks P713. That's what I had hoped.

Any ideas for these shorebirds? Intermediate between Ruddy Turnstone and Willet.

Any ideas about this tern? Intermediate in size between a Royal and a Least. (See Sanderling for scale.)

Just trying to milk it for all it's worth, and rack up "likes". But I suck at this.

I'm relieved to see that making puns on this forum doesn't cause my "community reputation" score to drop.

That "double-breasted" comment made me bust out laughing.

Would anyone care to describe what they are seeing in the photo that sets the Ross' apart from the Snows?

It’s been 30-some years, but I remember Lake Murray well!

If you don't mind me asking, where in SD did you see this bird. I grew up to the east of town and would see these guys occasionally on a scrubby hill that is now covered in houses.

Check vermilion flycatcher.

Looks good!

Do you have white pelicans up there? Their long bills could give the illusion of extended necks if flying high enough.

Second one looks like a Bonaparte’s to me.

White-rumped is my guess. Little bit larger than the least, and with the eye stripe.