Winter Shorebirds

Long-billed Dowitcher, not a species I usually get to see close up. I'm surprised the bird could tolerate the giddy, astoundingly annoying photographer flailing around in the mud next to me flushing birds while he tried to get down on his belly. Typical. Radio Road, Redwood Shores, CA.

Shorebirds get more attention during warmer times of the year, but in winter here in California we get close to 30 shorebird species that are expected (untouchable compared to any other state), although some are obviously more rare than others. I think it's actually surprising how infrequently we get a rare shorebird in the winter, considering the size of the state and amount of habitat we have (Ruff is the rarest "expected" winter shorebird). A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper that wintered at Bolsa Chica in Orange County years ago is my personal best...I dipped on the damn Greater Sand-Plover.

Which is irrelevant, for the time being. Here's a sample platter of some of California's wintering shorebirds, hopefully you will find them visually delicious. A flock of winter shorebirds may not have as much potential goodness as a big flock of gulls, warblers or sparrows, but they shouldn't be overlooked unless you are a real bottom of the barrel lister.

Marbled Godwits are abundant up and down the coast, although you get lucky to run into a big roosting flock like this. Do you see the one with the white breast and belly? Not a Bar-tailed, in case you were wondering. Radio Road.

Long-billed Curlew is one of my favorite shorebirds...they breed on the prairie, winter on the coast, have crazy proportions while being huge, kill large crustaceans, and have some cool vocals too. What's not to love? Photographed at San Leandro Marina, San Leandro, CA.

Whimbrel is the understated curlew that doesn't get as much attention. We would probably look closer at them if a similar-looking relative (Bristle-thighed Curlew, I'm looking at you) were more prone to vagrancy. When I lived on Midway, I (successfully) had to scan flocks of Bristle-thighed Curlews to find vagrant Whimbrels, heh. Carpinteria, CA

I have countless better pictures of Willets, I just think this is a funny mixed flock. San Leandro Marina.

Black Turnstone is the most abundant "rockpiper" in the state, followed by Surfbird, Ruddy Turnstone, Wandering Tattler and Rock Sandpiper, the latter of which don't care to go south of Humboldt Bay very often. Wandering Tattler can be frustrating to find at times as well. Photographed at Emeryville, CA.

While on a recent gulling trip, I was surprised by this Black Oystercatcher that let me crush it over and over and over again. This was one of the worst pictures I kept, not bad eh? Oystercatchers are a species capable of spiritually enriching any birder. Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline, Richmond, CA.

Sanderling. Although I am affected by these birds for other reasons, my favorite Sanderling field mark is the lack of hallux (hind toe). Pillar Point Harbor, CA.

I think this Dunlin is a big improvement over the last photo of one I posted. I'm looking forward to seeing them in alternate plumage, a superior garb to what they wear in the winter. San Leandro Marina.

The controversial Snowy Plover. I really enjoyed working with them last year, but it's back to seabirds in a few weeks. Photographed at Half Moon Bay, CA.

Mountain Plover. Not a bird of any shore, although they often can be found in the same places as Long-billed Curlews throughout the year. They are most easily found on the Carrizo Plain (where this bird was photographed) and the Salton Sea, although I have seen them on the Oxnard Plain and in Solano County as well.

I like that you can see the webbed feet of this American Avocet, that's not something I notice very often. An early breeder, some birds around here are already getting their summer ruddy colors. Radio Road.

This Black-necked Stilt has its mind on things other than me sitting there attempting to render it two-dimensional, but those subtle glossy highlights on its back are nice. Photographed at Radio Road.

That should provide a good sample of California's winter shorebirds, this certainly isn't a "photo study" (not sure how I feel about those, no offense). Hopefully I'll get some opportunities to shoot some birds in spring color this year, or better yet, find a spring shorebird vagrant! It can be done, but it's not easy...even for Number Seven.