Western Australia, Peel inlet, Greenshank (1 Viewer)

[citrinella]

These photos were taken on the 7th October at Coodanup. After much peering at photos on the web, we are a little curious what others think of these birds. The single bird in the left hand photo is clearly a greenshank. The pair in the other, poor, photo look like non-breeding greenshank - fairly heavy/blunt bill, lack of barring on the primaries - but the facial pattern more obvious in the right hand bird of the two looks almost more like marsh sandpiper - supercilium, virtually no dark colour on the lores.

We are grateful to John_WA for getting us straight on these birds. Our request now is - do other folk consider these facial markings unusual for greenshank ? If unusual, can this appearance be entirely blamed on the photographer ?

Thanks, Mike.

 

[Nutcracker]

Both are Greenshank; bill too stout, and pale-based, for Marsh Sand, which is altogether a much 'daintier' bird.

 

[citrinella]

Both are Greenshank; bill too stout, and pale-based, for Marsh Sand, which is altogether a much 'daintier' bird.

Thanks, we have reached that conclusion, though many marsh sandpiper images we have looked at also show just as much pale base. What about the facial markings ? Are these typical ?

Mike.

 

[Nutcracker]

Yep, typical, except a bit bleached by Australian sun compared with what I see here.

 

[citrinella]

Thanks Nutcracker, have been waiting to see if others find these markings typical, especially as your post could well mean you never see greenshank in (truly !) sunny climes.

Mike.