Black Turnstones------Loving the surf on exposed, rocky shoreline----(2 on right typical one on left another species)

“Surfbirds” usually gregarious and composed 2-4 different species.

The Black Turnstone is the most common, often >80% of a flock.

With darker features (feathers, bill, legs) plus the distinctive black tail feathers and white back seen in flight will contrast it with the “real” surfbird.

When feeding these birds are all energy. Twittering up and down the shoreline between the breakers.

When milling around at high tide, they often are seen charging at each other (as above) maintaining some bird understandable “order”.

Surf Birds

Here is a photo taken with a video camera through a window on a rainy windy day.

The larger bird in the center has lighter grey feathers, yellow legs and lower beak.

When they sit this quietly the “surf birds” can be more easily identified.

But more often “reality” is much messier---- is the bird below (upper right) a black turnstone or not? The lower mandible is yellowish. The legs look yellowish. And what about the white over the eye? Even when the birds frighten and fly up, it is very difficult to see the back patterns in all the “chaos”

Birds and photos come from Triple Island Lighthouse--- January 2000.