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?

GWC... · 08-17-2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

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?

Any pics at this site look familiar?

http://www.gpnc.org/sandpiperSp.htm

DRH · 08-17-2008, 07:18 PM

I think we had one of these birds on our dock a couple days ago. We'd never seen one here at the lake before, but it looked very much like the sandpiper photo in the link GWC provided. I went inside to get my camera, but when I came back the bird was gone.

SIKSUKR · 08-18-2008, 09:34 AM

On sunday afternoon I also was in the broads and saw pretty much what APS descibed about 100 feet from my boat.We slowly moved closer and off they went.First sighting of these type of birds for me.

08-16-2008, 10:22 AM	#1
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,788 Thanks: 2,084 Thanked 742 Times in 532 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? __________________ Every MP who enters Winter Harbor will pass by my porch of 67 years...

08-17-2008, 07:18 PM	#3
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith Posts: 1,670 Thanks: 1,181 Thanked 655 Times in 173 Posts	Possible Second Siting I think we had one of these birds on our dock a couple days ago. We'd never seen one here at the lake before, but it looked very much like the sandpiper photo in the link GWC provided. I went inside to get my camera, but when I came back the bird was gone. __________________ DRH

08-18-2008, 09:34 AM	#4
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	OK,this is weird On sunday afternoon I also was in the broads and saw pretty much what APS descibed about 100 feet from my boat.We slowly moved closer and off they went.First sighting of these type of birds for me. __________________ SIKSUKR