Thanks Steve, there were thousands of waders at the Treatment Plant on the weekend. Sorry, I keep asking again and again, from a distance they still look all the same to me. But I'm not giving up hope yet, one day, even I will be able to identify them
The next photo is of the same flock after they turned around.
.......still confused.....one minute I look, I can see differences....next minute I look, all of them look the same
Thanks for trying.
I think, it would help, if someone could post photos of some waders seperately and put names to them.? I so want to learn, don't just leave me wondering, me.
..that's a mature Black-winged Stilt. I know that. I also know what Red-necked Avocets , and Red-kneed Dotterels look like, but after that......a sad sory
In post#3 above, in my opinion they are more than likely, all Red-necked Stints.
If there were Sanderlings & Long-toed Stints in there, I'm not sure if I could pick them out in that photo, not enough detail there for me. But I did a quick search on Eremaea & there was only one record of a single Long-toed Stint in Victoria for the last 12 months, so I think very unlikely to be any in this photo. Also in the photo the habitat looks wrong for Sanderlings, they usually stick to sandy ocean beaches & nearby sandy river estuaries, not muddy wetlands.
Definitely no Sanderlings in the 2nd photo.
Owen went to the Treatment Plant a few days after we did. He told me ,he also saw Red-necked Stints, Sharp-tailed and Curlew Sandpipers, and Common Greenshanks, also some Black Kites and Spotted Harriers. I saw a few Black-shoulderd Kites (posted some photos), and a Brown Falcon that always hangs around Gate4.
Don't know about the Sanderlings, but if they stick to sandy beaches, the TP is close to the beach and is not muddy, but sandy.
I have the Shorebirds Identification Booklet from Birdlife Australia and think that it is very good. The drawings are larger than most field guide and thee are ID tips and pointers to differentiating features.
I have the Department of Environment & Water Resources and WWF Australian Shorebird Identification Sheets.
I also have the Birds Australia Shorebird Identification Tips sheets.
notwithstanding the above I still have ID difficulties with shorebirds
if you pm me with your email address I can send the last 2 PDF files to you
Yes, there are variations within the flock... But, perhaps there would be various ages between the birds and some individuals may be at different stages of developing their breeding plumage. If there were Sanderlings in that flock, they would standout really clearly as they are about the size of a Sharp-tailed SP and stints are only small.
Red-necked Stints. (assuming this is in Aust.) The rear flight view is difficult, but yes they appear to be the same species.
Thanks Steve, there were thousands of waders at the Treatment Plant on the weekend. Sorry, I keep asking again and again, from a distance they still look all the same to me. But I'm not giving up hope yet, one day, even I will be able to identify them
The next photo is of the same flock after they turned around.
M-L
I'll have a partial go on post #3, Araminta.
The birds with the dark stripe down the middle of their backs & tails with dark patches on the outer wings are red-necked stints.
The birds with the dark stripe down the middle of their tails but with no obvious markings on their wings might be long-toed stints.
And there are birds in the top of the photo with a narrow white wing band which might be sanderlings.
.......still confused.....one minute I look, I can see differences....next minute I look, all of them look the same
Thanks for trying.
I think, it would help, if someone could post photos of some waders seperately and put names to them.? I so want to learn, don't just leave me wondering,
me.
M-L
I know some, like this is an immature Black-winged Stilt. But that's easy.
M-L
..that's a mature Black-winged Stilt. I know that. I also know what Red-necked Avocets , and Red-kneed Dotterels look like, but after that......a sad sory

M-L
In post#3 above, in my opinion they are more than likely, all Red-necked Stints.
If there were Sanderlings & Long-toed Stints in there, I'm not sure if I could pick them out in that photo, not enough detail there for me. But I did a quick search on Eremaea & there was only one record of a single Long-toed Stint in Victoria for the last 12 months, so I think very unlikely to be any in this photo. Also in the photo the habitat looks wrong for Sanderlings, they usually stick to sandy ocean beaches & nearby sandy river estuaries, not muddy wetlands.
Definitely no Sanderlings in the 2nd photo.
Thanks for your input Steve
Owen went to the Treatment Plant a few days after we did. He told me ,he also saw Red-necked Stints, Sharp-tailed and Curlew Sandpipers, and Common Greenshanks, also some Black Kites and Spotted Harriers. I saw a few Black-shoulderd Kites (posted some photos), and a Brown Falcon that always hangs around Gate4.
Don't know about the Sanderlings, but if they stick to sandy beaches, the TP is close to the beach and is not muddy, but sandy.
M-L
Araminta
I have the Shorebirds Identification Booklet from Birdlife Australia and think that it is very good. The drawings are larger than most field guide and thee are ID tips and pointers to differentiating features.
I have the Department of Environment & Water Resources and WWF Australian Shorebird Identification Sheets.
I also have the Birds Australia Shorebird Identification Tips sheets.
notwithstanding the above I still have ID difficulties with shorebirds
if you pm me with your email address I can send the last 2 PDF files to you
Peter
Thanks Peter,that would be lovely. The pm is on it's way. Very much appreciated. There is hope for me then?
M-L
Yes, there are variations within the flock... But, perhaps there would be various ages between the birds and some individuals may be at different stages of developing their breeding plumage. If there were Sanderlings in that flock, they would standout really clearly as they are about the size of a Sharp-tailed SP and stints are only small.
ihewman
Brandon (aka ihewman)