Most real migrant shorebirds of Australia are members of the sandpiper family like these Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits (already in winter plumage). The majority of these nests in the High Arctic and makes the long flight to areas of the Southern Hemisphere like South America (North American migrants), Africa and Australia (European and Asian nesters wintering far south).

Some of these birds arrive still in breeding plumage (right) while others most, really show up having molted into winter (basic) plumage. These two Bar-tailed Godwits reflect the two extremes, and are told from Black-tailed by the full ventral plumage, upturned bill and barred tail (don’t be fooled by the wing-tips).

Godwits are very large sandpipers whose bill usually curves up, and this species (Bar-tailed) breeds in Western Alaska, along with Asia. Some of you have seen it around Nome. There was a nice article on them last spring (I think) in the NY Times. Godwits probe the deepest of any sandpiper and usually wade the deepest as well.

Two species of knots breed circum-polar, with Red Knots mostly in Canada’s High Arctic and Great Knots being Eurasian. Being in the Eastern Hemisphere, naturally most of Australia’s knots are Great, but can you pick out the three Reds in the picture? It’s the top left bird, middle left and just to its lower right. The first two still retain some red from breeding plumage, so they are easier.

Great Knots are speckled a bit as well, and this bird (rear) has lost much of its spots. Does anyone recognize the front bird? Or which North American bird it closely resembles? It is an Asian sandpiper, very much like one abundant in Alaska in summer and a common migrant through our area in spring and fall. OK, how about the guy back there in the orange and blue jersey??? No, sorry, it’s not a Little Blue Heron.

Yes, to the guy in the garnet and gold sweatshirt! It’s a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, very similar to our Pectoral SP, except the pattern continues on down to the belly. My friends, I have looked over a LOT of Pecs in Alaska and am still looking for my first ST there. Notice the long primaries and pointed wings on such a migratory species.

Now, speaking of looking like an American sandpiper, this Old World bird looks and acts like our Spotted Sandpiper, without the spots in summer. It’s the Common Sandpiper, a butt-bobbing guy very closely-related to the Spotted. This is a common phenomenon; two birds very similar, one in Asia and one in North America. Obviously, there was once a super species that has now split, just as several (like the Whimbrel) are soon to be split between Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Similarly, the Curlew Sandpiper which breeds in Asia’s High Arctic is very closely-related to our Dunlin, and this pair above has contrasting plumages. The one on the left is fully into winter garb while the one on the right is changing from its breeding plumage. Curlew Sandpipers also have a more decurved bill than Dunlins, leading to the name “Curlew” Sandpiper. Here’s two in changing plumage flying together (note white rump).

The kings of our Planet’s sandpipers are its curlews and this Eastern Curlew is a whopper. That extremely decurved bill probably belongs to a female and they use it to probe deep into mud for various invertebrate life. I never saw them out of the water like our Long-billeds so perhaps their biology is different.

Tattlers are dull-gray birds found in both hemispheres. We have plenty of Wandering Tattlers down the Pacific Coast, hiding amongst lava rocks with excellent cryptic coloration. This Asian species is the Gray-tailed Tattler, an abundant bird on the shores of Oz most of the year. (Important: Arctic shorebirds begin arriving here in late July.)

The one that’s sideways still has some red on the neck, with his comrades totally in basic plumage for the winter. For the life of me (forgive my arrogance), I can’t understand how ANYONE can confuse one of these with an American peep, like Western or Semi-palmated (regardless of what they’ve been drinking). I’ll regret saying that. The best areas for studying these Asian shorebirds were the Esplanade in Cairns and the beaches south of Broome, near their bird observatory. What a thrill!

This migrant is a plover, the Sand-plover. These are very common on Aussie beaches, and in fact, there are two extremely similar species. Notice the plover bill (thick and short) and the large eye. Make no mistake; plovers are superior fliers, just as are sandpipers. This really reminds me of our Wilson’s Plover! Now, just enjoy a few scenes of migrant sandpiper flocks…

Here are several Gray-tailed Tattlers with a changing Curlew Sandpiper trying to keep up.

Can you spot these: 1) Great Knots; 2) Greater Sand-plovers; 3) Curlew Sandpipers; 4) Red-necked Stints; 5) Red-capped plovers? Key- 1-Center back; 2-Middle on red sand; 3-Left on red sand; 4-Just behind and just on rocks; and, 5-Extremely right and on the rocks (like Rush). Extra credit: What are the three big sandpipers in the middle-back with white undersides and slightly upturned bills? Answer at the end.

Lots of stuff. Note the Black-tailed Godwits landing on right. Quiz question #2: What new sandpiper is here that we haven’t seen or discussed? More sand piperage. Recognize any?

Quiz answers: 1) Terek Sandpiper and, 2) Ruddy Turnstone. Hope you enjoyed that!