ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Monthly challenge to test and improve your bird identification skills.
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Neil Fitzgerald
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ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby Neil Fitzgerald » Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:41 am

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This is the first challenge for a new round. All scores are even, so make sure you have a go.
Answers for this challenge are due by replying to this topic by midnight (NZST) on Thursday 15 July 2010.

Click here for the rules.

The winner of the 2010-2011 ID Quiz will get one free place on a scheduled Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ pelagic trip!

Answers will not be visible to anyone else until after the closing date.
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tim
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Re: ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby tim » Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:47 pm

sharp tailed sandpiper
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Re: ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby michaelgreeny » Thu Jul 01, 2010 7:57 pm

I must say firstly, whenever I open a new ID Quiz and see a wader, my heart sinks a little lower!

But on a brighter note, after having a browse through a field guide or two, I am going to go with Sharp Tailed Sandpiper, I reckon the combination of the colour of the legs, the edging of the prominent feathers, the crown of the head being a different colour and the slight streaking underneath make it a Sharpy.

Although I am ready to be shown otherwise.
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Re: ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby GarySetterfield » Fri Jul 02, 2010 10:24 am

sharp-tailed sand
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Re: ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby ian smith » Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:39 pm

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper? (pronounced feather edging, speckling on underparts, yellow-green legs)

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Re: ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby craigsteed » Sat Jul 03, 2010 6:13 pm

I'm going with a sharp-tailed sandpiper
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Re: ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby quattrocchi » Sat Jul 03, 2010 8:42 pm

Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos the yellow legs being the clincher.
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Re: ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby ledzep » Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:15 pm

I'll go for Sharp Tailed Sandpiper. Hard to tell from this angle, but I'm not expecting to see flecks on the underside of a Pectoral. The legs would perhaps be yellower on Pectoral. So I'll stick with Sharp Tailed Sandpiper.
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Re: ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby bruce.shanks » Sat Jul 03, 2010 11:51 pm

Sharp tailed sandpiper
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Re: ID Challenge #1 - closes 15 July 2010

Postby Byrd » Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:33 pm

ah, sandpipers....great. Well here goes. As I have no idea what on Earth I'm doing when it comes to waders I will take a stab and hope for the best. It would appear to be a Calidris, and it has yellowy legs which narrows things down. Nice bright feathers on the upperparts with black centres and rufous and white edges. I think I see the chestnut crown colour. Sharp-tailed sandpiper and pectoral sandpiper look most likely to me (he says hopefully). The underparts are white but have those sort of arrow markings on them which I guess makes it a sharp-tailed sandpiper in or coming into breeding plumage, although the legs look very yellow.

Answer: sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata

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