Identification Needed...

ApS · 08-16-2008, 10:22 AM

While out in The Broads on Thursday, I spied objects that I took to be three large corks bobbing on the surface. When I sailed over to remove them as an questioned boating hazard, they flew away!

I've never seen such tiny birds floating on any water's surface before, and I've been a Winnipesaukee birder forever! They appeared to be shorebirds, and "sandpiper-ish" in flight.

Spotted Sandpipers would be my first guess, except that they flew only a short distance further away and allowed my boat to approach so closely to start with. (Wish I'd seen some spots, though).

It appeared that one was feeding—or assisting in feeding—the other two. Many Mayflies were on the surface Thursday and Friday.

I'm away from my bird book right now. Any possibilities come to mind? Do Spotted Sandpipers float?

08-16-2008, 10:22 AM	#1
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,938 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	Identification Needed... While out in The Broads on Thursday, I spied objects that I took to be three large corks bobbing on the surface. When I sailed over to remove them as an questioned boating hazard, they flew away! I've never seen such tiny birds floating on any water's surface before, and I've been a Winnipesaukee birder forever! They appeared to be shorebirds, and "sandpiper-ish" in flight. Spotted Sandpipers would be my first guess, except that they flew only a short distance further away and allowed my boat to approach so closely to start with. (Wish I'd seen some spots, though). It appeared that one was feeding—or assisting in feeding—the other two. Many Mayflies were on the surface Thursday and Friday. I'm away from my bird book right now. Any possibilities come to mind? Do Spotted Sandpipers float? __________________ Is it "Common Sense" isn't.