[mou] Shorebird ID help

[Dennis and Barbara Martin]

Pictures are needed to support the identification of a given bird.  Since 
you gave no information as to what you observed in the field  or what you 
think the species is then the picture is of no value in determining the 
species.  Since this picture appears to show a bird about the same size and 
with the same bill as the identified Stilt Sandpipers what makes you think 
that it is anything different?  The picture is not of good enough quality to 
show anything in the plumage details like feather pattern or colors.

We find that species like shorebirds tend to stick around for relatively 
long periods of time thus allowing one to study the bird for a much longer 
time than many other birds.  Thus you usually can figure out what the 
species is.  A photo is an extremely short look at a bird that unless the 
photo is of very high quality does not help much in the identification of 
the bird.  One of us spent 20 minutes looking at a shorebird on Sunday that 
seemed to defy identification due to distance.  But after 20 minutes the id 
seemed to be clear and others were called to the scope to look at the 
species to see if others agreed and were seeing the same field marks.  As it 
turned out we were right but we would have learned more whether we were 
right or wrong.

:)


Dennis and Barbara Martin
Shorewood, MN
dbmartin at skypoint.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pastor Al Schirmacher" <pastoral at princetonfreechurch.net>
To: <mou-net at moumn.org>; <mnbird at lists.mnbird.net>; 
<BIRDCHAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>; <BIRDWG01 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>; "Wisconsin 
Birding Network" <wisbirdn at lawrence.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:18 AM
Subject: [mou] Shorebird ID help


> My son, Nathan Schirmacher, took these photos of a shorebird
> (http://www.flickr.com/photos/natester166) at Foley Sewage Ponds, Foley, 
> MN
> (central part of state) on Saturday, August 30th - click on the "Mystery
> Shorebird" section to the right, click on the photos to enlarge.
>
> We have discussed the ID without resolution, and would appreciate 
> feedback.
>
> This bird fed alone, would not associate with the six Stilts present.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Al Schirmacher
> Princeton, MN
> Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
>
>
>
> ---
> This mailing list is sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. 
> Mailing list membership available on-line at 
> http://moumn.org/subscribe.html.
> -----
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to mou-net-request at moumn.org with a 
> subject of unsubscribe.