BALD EAGLE IN FLIGHT, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

DOWITCHER, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

   It's very difficult to differentiate the Long-billed Dowager from the Short-billed Dowager.  It is most likely a Short-billed Dowager, as they prefer mud flats on the coast, while Long-billed Dowagers prefer fresh water, but we can't be sure.

REDDISH EGRET, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

   This Reddish Egret was it dance as part of foraging for fish.

NONBREEDING SANDERLING, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

   We can ID this sandpiper as a nonbreeding Sanderling as follows:

• Pale gray above with dark spot on shoulder.
• Clean white below.
• Black legs and black tubular bill.

TRICOLORED HERON, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

   We can ID this plover as Semipalmated Plover as follows:

• Bill is black with some orange at the base.  If you look closely you can just make out the orange at the base.
• Legs are orange.
• Dark brown with white underside.  This is the darkest of the small plovers.
• Small, plump bird.

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

   We can ID this plover as a breeding male Wilson's Plover by the following:

• Very large black bill.
• Dull pinkish legs.
• Complete black neck-ring (the female has a brown neck-ring).