17 replies to this topic

[folkeye]

Will start the pictures from best to worst. (Taken in Long Beach CA, So Cal)

1. This a red-tailed? The shoulder's didn't look spotty enough for a red-shouldered hawk.







2. Smattering of shorebirds... terrible picture, but maybe the shape can be recognized.




3. More smattering of shorebirds (and American Avocets). I believe most are the same type as the picture above along with some little ones that weren't Killdeer.




4. That a young cormorant with that whitish belly?

[folkeye]

And the bigger challenge of the day (at least it wold be for me!) is this guy:




I initially thought it was a swallow, but didn't have that forked tail I was used to seeing. Moving so fast catching bugs I didn't get the greatest look. Dark upper, light lower.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Your first looks like a juvie Red-Shoulder (I can see a little red on the shoulder, too )

I think I see a Black-Necked Stilt on the right side of your first shorebird photo and maybe some Dowitcher sp.?

Your cormorant is a juvenile Double Crested, and the description of your swallow and the image point to Tree.

[TheGodComplex]

The fourth picture I believe is definitely a cormorant. It has the beak that I have only seen on cormorant's. I am not sure on what species it is, though.

In the second picture, I believe that some of those are oystercatchers. They have the long bills, and they have a similar body shape. At the same time, I am not sure how deep the water is, so the leg length could cause that to be wrong. It seems that on the right is a stilt, but, due to the lack of the color, it is hard to be sure.

(Also, I am a novice at this, so I may be way off)

[TheGodComplex]

I think Pilgrim is right about them being Dowitchers. For it to be an oystercatcher, the beak would be more rounded at the end, but these seems more sharp. I apologize.

EDIT: At the same time, Dowitchers aren't really in SoCal in the summer. So, it may be an oystercatcher.

[folkeye]

Your first looks like a juvie Red-Shoulder (I can see a little red on the shoulder, too )

I think I see a Black-Necked Stilt on the right side of your first shorebird photo and maybe some Dowitcher sp.?

Your cormorant is a juvenile Double Crested, and the description of your swallow and the image point to Tree.

I have never seen a Dowitcher before, but looking at the pictures online it is possible. Unfortunately there at the wrong time of day with the lighting against us. Even with Binoculars the possible patterns/colors were pretty hard to see. Will have to go back when things are more favorable.

They weren't black oyster catchers (doesn't look like the American Oyster Catchers come to So Cal), those I can tell what they look like. It's the bright orange beak give away, which they didn't have.

[canon eos]

Amazing results from that Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V camera. Congratulations

[folkeye]

Amazing results from that Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V camera. Congratulations

LOL, thanks. It is actually a great point and shoot. Just starts getting super grainy when you push past it's optical zoom and into the digital range, which of course I had to do for the shore birds. Otherwise it's an awesome little camera.

[BarnSwallow]

The only swallow that has the long forked tail is the barn swallow. All the others have square or notched tails.

[folkeye]

The only swallow that has the long forked tail is the barn swallow. All the others have square or notched tails.

Ah, good to know! So chances are good of it being a tree swallow then.

[fisherman1313]

I agree with Red-shouldered for your hawk. The shorebirds (one word, just so you know) in the second pic all look like dowitchers to me, in the third pic I see 2 avocets, a bunch of dowitchers, a few peeps (middle right) and two stilts (lower left). Shorebirds start migration pretty early and some may not migrate at all, so it is possible for dowitchers to be in SoCal now. I agree with Double-crested for your cormaorants but the swallow could be a Tree or a Northern Rough-wing, both are in the area now and (if you did not get a good look) could appear dark over light.

[folkeye]

UPDATED Shorebird Smatter (picture from my friend's camera that has a better zoom). If you go look at the full size it might help. Whiter underside with brown on top, dark beak. Seeing a little bit of ring around the next, but not as prominent as a killdeer. Might be more than one type of little round bird here.


ElDorado_LA_River 143 by notrufus, on Flickr



ElDorado_LA_River 145 by notrufus, on Flickr

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Most of these look like peeps (I wouldn't ID past that), with a few Dowitchers mixed in the background (especially back right in the first). Plus the stilts and avocets, which are pretty obvious in these shots

[folkeye]

Most of these look like peeps (I wouldn't ID past that), with a few Dowitchers mixed in the background (especially back right in the first). Plus the stilts and avocets, which are pretty obvious in these shots

They the short-billed type?

[TheBillyPilgrim]

They the short-billed type?

The differences between SBD and LBD are notoriously difficult to judge (I'd say its one of the toughest IDs in North America). Even with a great picture, its still often a mystery. I'd just leave these at Dowitcher sp.

[fisherman1313]

I agree with TheBillyPilgrim, from these pics it would be very difficult to make any positive IDs, except on the avocets and stilts.

[folkeye]

I agree with TheBillyPilgrim, from these pics it would be very difficult to make any positive IDs, except on the avocets and stilts.

Guess it just gives me an excuse to go back and try again! Oh darn!

[psweet]

The cormorant looks like a Double-crested. I don't have that much experience with Brandt's, but I don't think they ever get this pale below. First-summer Double-cresteds do.