Namibia - Walvis Bay Salt Pans (Distant Peeps) (1 Viewer)

[Jacob12]

Thread 4: These are larger waders. They were seen wayyyy out in the distance and the heat and salt distortion really wrecks the shots.

I'd appreciate anyone giving their best guesses. I've labelled the birds 1-4 on the photos. Probably all Greenshanks (except 1, which maybe is a ruff?)

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
I agree with you, nr 1 Greenshank, and no Marsh Sandpiper for me, too.
I would hesitate to ID nr. 3, but it is the same size and built as the Greenshank next to it. So it has to be another Greenshank just by this. (Marsh SP is a smaller, more slender, grazile, elegant bird)
But wait. At first, all other seems to have broad based, clearly uptilted bills too. But can this be judged with confidence? Low resolution, heat and artefacts (no offense) might well play tricks here. Yes, if forced I would ID 3 and 4 as Greenshanks, but with a caveat.

Nr. 2 is a Grey Plover. Please note strong, short, stout bill. It gives the impression of tucked on the head. Therefore the bill doesnt seem to fit/ match to the uniform grey wader. I hope this understandable.