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Migrants in Breeding plumage	May was good month for shorebirds

Wandering tattler

Heteroscelus incanus (J. F. Gmelin, 1789

In the film clip I comment on the constant bobbing seen while feeding (nervous, I guessed but Shorebirds says to be typical while foraging)

I liked the contrast with bird at left who was almost contemptuous of my presence

Short video 900K WMF

Literature says some Wandering Tattlers winter near Australia --- and very similar to Asian Heteroscelus brevipes (Vieillot, 1816) -- gray-tailed tattler

Clues to Calidris spp

So which peep is it?

Are those legs black? The beak looks like a Western Sandpiper’s. When they are foraging like this it’s often difficult to get clear view of legs and plumage etc. Here is similar bird in short sequence – can you tell? (WMF 954K) Here is a ‘movie’ clip of other bird(s) which I interpret as a Western Sandpiper based on hint of “chestnut’ in backs breeding plumage (WMF 900K). See also the Semipalmated file for similar type ‘guesses’

Sanderling

Calidris alba
(Pallas, 1764)

Note the black patch on shoulder (scapular patch)

Beak and black legs

One far left appears very pale (non breeding?) See the 1 Meg movie clip for more of the variation ---- Here is a humorous look at above Sandpiper (WMF 931K)

Rock Sandpiper in Breeding plumage left – note black patch ear coverlet (WMF clip 820K)--- On right is Black Turnstone in breeding plumage – nice feathers fellow (movie clip WMF 831K)

Charadriidae

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus Bonaparte, 1825 – Breeds on beaches QCIs

Black-bellied Plover

Pluvialis squatarola (Linnaeus, 1758)

Here is a video 1 meg of these 2 plovers at TPL

	Surfbird
	While they are common at TPL we seldom see them in their reproductive plumage (they leave too soon) --- but here are some migrants in full breeding finery --- see WMF file (917K)