OSPREY IN FLIGHT, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

NONBREEDING BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

   We differentiated this Black-bellied Plover from the American Golden-Plover, which is very similar as follows:

• The pale cap, rather than the dark cap of the American Golden-Plover.
• The white belly, rather than the gray belly of the American Golden-Plover.

    You can still see some of the black on the belly from the plover's breeding plumage.

NONBREEDING LEAST SANDPIPER, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

      We identified this "peep" (very small sandpipers) as a Least Sandpiper as follows:

• Small size
• The dull greenish legs; the other peeps have black legs.

   The Least Sandpiper is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 241.

WOOD STORK IN FLIGHT, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

NONBREEDING DUNLIN, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

   We identified these birds as nonbreeding Dunlins by the following:

• Small size, but larger than peeps
• Long, slightly drooping bill
• Black and relatively short legs
• Gray-brown plumage

   The Dunlin is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 240.

NONBREEDING WILSON'S PLOVER, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

BIRDER IN GOODLAND, MARCO ISLAND, FL