sndral

Thanks, the difference was pretty pronounced compared to the regular male mallard also in the pond. Here’s another photo of it, maybe a bit less over exposed?

Saw this duck today on a freshwater pond in Monterey, I think it’s a Mallard - but why is it brown & white?

Thank you very much for the link, there were two & I didn’t realize one was banded until I got home just now & enlarged my photos.

I’m pretty sure this is a Snowy Plover, but it appears that it’s been banded, it’s the first time I’ve spotted a banded bird & would appreciate any information about that.

Spotted this solo small bird scurrying around & bobbing it’s head in the dry sand part of the beach in Pacific Grove yesterday afternoon. All photos are the same bird. Snowy Plover?

Thank you, it was a beautiful bird, more ‘golden’ than the Black Bellied plovers I’ve been seeing lately & when I saw it I thought that’s a bird I’ve not noticed before. I’m often confused about birds because I know so little and getting into the weeds w/ male/female/breeding/non breeding/juvenile plumage makes my head spin lol. I so appreciate the help folks on this forum provide when I become confused.

I thought these were Black Bellied Plovers, except for the one in the first photograph - which Merlin id’ed as a Pacific Golden Plover? All were along the beach/rocks near Pacific Grove CA this morning.

Thank you. At least I ‘know’ the Black Turnstones (& the Ruddys) because I’ve seen them a lot. The Phalarope I was pretty sure about because I asked about one I saw 2 days ago, but it’s nice to know I got that one right this time! Sandpipers are going to be a work in progress for me.

Thanks, I appreciate the help. Sigh, I even studied my Western photos from early July & tried to research, I think I’m just a really slow learner when it comes to birds lol.

In beach wrack today mid day, second photo it’s w/ what I think is a Phalarope - for a size comparison..

I saw your post - your photo is much better than mine 🙂 I think you’re an hour + north, I saw this guy around 9 a.m. at the Spanish bay end of Asilomar beach.

Sorry for the poor photos, but this guy scurried away & it was overcast/low light this morning. I noticed it because it looked ‘different’. It was alone near the surf at low tide. I’m thinking maybe a Phalarope, but I’m such a novice it could be a returning Sanderling in plumage I’m not used to seeing, or even a Sandpiper I haven’t learned yet…argh. Thanks for any help.

Thank you, that was one of a couple I thought it might be.

I snapped these photos because from a distance thinking I’d be able to figure out what they were - but can’t seem to, any help would be appreciated.

I’ve been returning to the same spot in Monterey to work on my Sandpiper ID skills & today I got this blurry shot before the bird scurried into the foliage - is this one a young Killdeer? It’s about the same size as the Sandpipers & I’ve been seeing/hearing 2 adult Killdeers in the vicinity.

Here’s another photo - is the Least Sandpiper the one w/ the yellow legs? I did some reading last night & am curious about why they are in Monterey in early July vis a viz. their migration?

Cool, so much to learn. Thank you!

Today I counted 7 small birds w/ 2 Killdeers on a beach in Monterey near a freshwater pond - are they this year’s young? First photo has one of the adults in the foreground. Thanks.

Spotted at low tide on rocks by the ocean near Monterey today. Not as tall as the Whimbrels nearby. Thx.

Oops, yes they did & thanks, I think I’m slowly learning these birds I’m seeing 🙂

On the beach by Monterey today, my guesses: First photo Ruddy Turnstone & Black Turnstones? Second photo Ruddy Turnstones? Third & fourth photos Black Bellied Plover? Thx.!

Spotted today mid morning on the ground in dunes near the ocean by a culvert. About 6-8” tall.

Are the birds w/ the upturned beaks I saw today on the beach near Monterey CA Marbled Godwits?

I see lots of what I believe are Western gulls of various ages, but this one on a beach near Monterey CA today caught my eye because it looked ‘different’ - Heermann’s?

Photo from today at low tide near Monterey, I think these small birds that I often see chasing the waves are Sanderlings, but overheard someone calling them Snowy Plovers, can someone please confirm my ID? Also those bigger guys (not the gull) are Whimbrels?