Shorebird Quiz!

General birdwatching discussion, help with bird identification, and all other things relating to wild birds and birding in NZ that don't fit in one of the other forums.
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RussCannings
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Shorebird Quiz!

Postby RussCannings » Sat Nov 11, 2017 4:03 pm

Well it's getting into mid-November and that means that NZ shorebird season is in full swing!

But how to we keep all these brown, grey, and white things sorted out? It takes a lot of practice for one thing, along with long hours in the evening puzzling over photographs and field guides. Lisa and I were lucky enough to visit the Broome Bird Observatory along the NW coast of Western Australia this past October--you must go--it's fabulous! And anyway, it's Miranda and some serious steroids. I decided to take a lot of 'flock shots' to capture the diversity, and while a lot of them turned out to be pretty fuzzy, there are some useful ones that I will post on this thread for your viewing pleasure.

So let's make this a skill-building game. How many species can you spot? Let's start with just numbers (of species), then after everyone's had a chance to put in their number, we can try and work out the species. Obviously I'm at a bit of an advantage as I was there! But maybe you'll spot something I didn't? :shock:

Here is the first photo (Will post another in a few days):
ShorebirdQuiz1.jpg
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Bennyboy87654
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Re: Shorebird Quiz!

Postby Bennyboy87654 » Sat Nov 11, 2017 4:08 pm

I count 5(but am sure theres more)
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imogen
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Re: Shorebird Quiz!

Postby imogen » Sat Nov 11, 2017 6:01 pm

6 for me.
Byrd
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Re: Shorebird Quiz!

Postby Byrd » Sat Nov 11, 2017 7:28 pm

I get 7 (maybe 8)
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CMKMStephens
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Re: Shorebird Quiz!

Postby CMKMStephens » Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:27 pm

As someone who knows nearly zilch about distinguishing between beige shorebirds, and could benefit from having a go, I can see five obvious different birds, two maybes based on relative size, one maybe based on shape, and a few of the same type of maybe based on colour.
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: Shorebird Quiz!

Postby Oscar Thomas » Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:44 pm

I also think 7 maybe 8.
Wandoona
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Re: Shorebird Quiz!

Postby Wandoona » Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:01 pm

7 for me
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RussCannings
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Re: Shorebird Quiz!

Postby RussCannings » Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:44 pm

Answer is 8 (Including the tern). Now let's work out the species!
Bennyboy87654
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Re: Shorebird Quiz!

Postby Bennyboy87654 » Sun Nov 12, 2017 2:17 pm

I see Golden Plover, Bar tailed godwits(one in breeding plumage or maybe a different species im no expert) lessar knots, eastern curlew(i think) the terns(whatever species they are). it looks like ther is multiple species of small birds in the flock but i havent a clue of what they could be
Colin Miskelly
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Re: Shorebird Quiz!

Postby Colin Miskelly » Sun Nov 12, 2017 3:04 pm

Gull-billed tern, eastern curlew, bar-tailed godwit, black-tailed godwit, Asiatic dowitcher, lesser knot, great knot, Pacific golden plover

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