Subject: [Tweeters] Shorebird flock ID
Date: Dec 21 12:51:47 2015
From: Josh Adams - xjoshx at gmail.com


Hi all,
200 Black Turnstones seems like a pretty high number of that species
in one flock (eBird's King Co. high count is currently 60).
Additionally, there well marked backs would be extremely obvious in
flight even at a significant distance and would have been mentioned, I
assume? The formation flying and dark back would point to Dunlin,
IMHO, but Sanderling is also possible (or mixed flock of both).
Sanderling have light gray backs, but depending on the light they
could look "dark'.

There have been good sized flocks of Dunlin on the Edmonds marina
breakwater in the last week (I think Joe Sweeney counted 900 in a
photo, if I recall correctly) with similar look and behavior.

Josh Adams
Lynnwood, WA