sbutk

Actually, going by the one example of an Auk photo that Google provided, I could see it. ...Then again, if someone had suggested that it might've be a pair of Pink Flamingos in that horrible photo of mine, I probably would've been able to convince my mind that that's what I was seeing, as well. No worries, that's half the fun of this business. Happy birding! 😎

Gotcha. I can't really even see the bill size, so I won't argue. Like I said up above, just wish I'd been able to get a definitive photo.

For the lone bird for which we're leaning Laughing Gull, I'm inclined to agree less now, as there seems to be too much black on the trailing edges of the wings, rather than just the tips. For that reason, I still wouldn't rule out White Pelican, myself. But I think what I think turns out to be water under the bridge, and these birds are destined to remain unidentified. As is often the case, that just means I'll have to work on getting better shots next time ...and on making sure next time comes sooner than later. Thanks for your contributions, everyone!

I'm novice enough to have to look up the Alcid family: Google gives as example Auk, Puffin. Wouldn't that have been the highlight species of this trip??? Owing to the shoddy photo, I guess we'll never know. Thanks anyway! 😃

Hi, This will likely prove to be one of the most challenging ID requests I’ve posted thus far for any of my fellow birding sleuths… Both photos were taken during a recent trip to the Cape May area. One was from a moving vehicle, where the autofocus decided to lock onto the car’s trim and rear-view mirror rather than my intended subject; and the other is from a long distance, through subpar weather conditions. For the duo of “barely there” birds flying past, I’m hoping someone might be able to make some observations based on shape and profile, because I realize there cer

a) Wow. b) I guess "birds of a feather don't ALWAYS flock together". Not when it comes to ducks, especially. c) That was a wealth of information, much more than I could have ever asked for. This community is certainly lucky to count you among its assets. d) THANKS so much for your post! 😃

Thanks, everyone! I'll go with Greater Yellowlegs. Curious, what are the tipoffs that enabled that ID? (In flight, anyway - Thinner body?)

Hi, I snapped these photos recently from the hawkwatch platform beside Bunker Pond in Cape May Point State Park. I want to say this is a small flock of sandpipers, but if possible I’d like to be more specific. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks, Steve ***Wherever you are in the world, I wish my fellow birders (and EVERYONE) continued health and safety in this present time of uncertainty. Be well… ***

Hmm, so you think they are mixed flocks? Thanks, I'll wait and see if any more replies come rolling in.

Thank you, both.

Hi, On a recent trip to birding trip to southern NJ, I photographed two different birds, whose IDs are somewhat complicated by shadows in one instance, and distance in the next. My best guesses are Yellow-rumped warbler for the first and Common gallinule for the second. Can anyone confirm or refute? Thanks, Steve ***Wherever you are in the world, I wish my fellow birders (and EVERYONE) continued health and safety in this present time of uncertainty. Be well… *** [P1140646e, P1140647e, P1140648e, P1140757, P1140758, P11

Hi, On a recent trip to Cape May Point State Park, I photographed two different flocks (Photos 1-4 and Photos 5-7) of high-flying ducks. As always, I apologize for the photos being quite grainy at such long distances. My gut tells me they might be American Wigeons (which I did also observe much closer to the ground) - either one flock or both. Can anyone confirm or refute? Oh, and then one lone duck (Photo 😎 added in as a bonus. To my untrained eye, this one could be a Pintail or a Wood Duck. Thanks, Steve ***Wherever you are

Hermit thrush, it is. Thanks again, everyone!

OK, thanks. Would make sense why they're [sort of] together.

Thanks. I had seen a Palm Warbler in the yard just a few minutes earlier, so that is a distinct possibility. I'll wait and see if I get any additional opinions. 👍