lonestranger

I did the same thing yesterday. I thought I had ruled Gulls out of the equation when the U didn't fit. When I couldn't figure out an Egret that fit with iBird's list, I resorted to the banding code list and sorted through it until I found something that ended with EEG. Getting the last two letters first gave me tunnel vision on that one.

Common Mergansers

BRDL 73 ???? ???? ???? ???? ????

Awesome capture @pictaker. I have to ask, is this one of those rare instances where you had more lens than you needed, or is it just a tight crop?

This is the first and only time I haven't seen the rating stars. I suspect it's because I'm not eBird member, but I can see the rating stars for all other checklist photos I look at, but not with this photographer's photos. ?‍♂️

Is it possible to hide your ratings on eBird? I see lots of photos on the above checklist being rated multiple times but not showing any rating at all. Since 0 stars doesn't seem to be an option for rating, I have to wonder if the ratings are being hid by the photographer. That'd be one way to ensure your photos are rated on their quality and not influenced by someone thinking your photo is rated too high or too low.

Does this Red-winged Blackbird have black feathers coming in with white tips that will wear off or is something else going on here? I have to say that I have never noticed this plumage on Red-winged Blackbirds before and it just struck me as odd. I am used to seeing streaky females and immature males, but I don't remember seeing one that could compare to a European Starling's white chevrons instead of a RWBL's streaks. Have I just not been observant in the past or is this just a weird looking bird? Clicking through to Flickr and clicking on the image once or twice will show better detail if needed.

Chipping Sparrows

BRDL 72 ???? ???? ???? ???? ????

Woo-hoo!!!! Got it on the first guess, NOT the seventh. BRDL 71 ????

Cedar Waxwings

Common Loon

BRDL 70 ???? ???? ???? ???? ????

I think the majority of us try to solve the puzzle without a list or field guide, but won't hesitate to refer to either once we're stumped, whether that's after the first guess or last guess. Some play on the Hard setting within the game, but I think that's a small percentage of us. As long as it's fun, it's all good in my eyes.

It was tough deciding if this photo belonged here or in the Almost Good thread.

Common Grackles

BRDL 69 ???? ???? ???? ???? ????

Chestnut-sided Warbler

This photo is obviously of the Tri-coloured-Tie sub-species.

BRDL 68 ???? ???? ???? ???? I solved the puzzle without a list but needed the list to realize I'd never heard of this bird.

Last day for the B's Baltimore Oriole

BRDL 67 ???? ???? ???? ????

Bald Eagle

I didn't use a list this morning, or much thought. I was just throwing letters together to see what might make a code for my third guess. After I solved the puzzle I still needed to solve the riddle of what bird it was, so I guess I did need the list after all. BRDL 66 ???? ???? ????

List assisted BRDL 65 ???? ???? ???? ????