Slim pickings again..

[evil eggplant]

Greetings from Washoe Valley, Nevada..

Not much to see around here lately. Every now and then we get lucky, but mostly were just sitting around trying to stay hydrated.

Some kind of blackbird, looks a bit like a Brewer's, but it's not. Any ideas?

http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/1blackbird.jpg

A Snipe. My first. This was the best I could do, but I got him, and I suppose that's the important thing :cry

http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/common_snipe.jpg

Some kind of Wren-like bird. He was really, really small..

http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/wren.jpg

Not sure about him either. Time to crack open Sibley's..

http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/1wren2.jpg

No visit to the (quickly evaporating) wetlands is complete without a few of these guys stopping by. Truthfully, the Killdeer is an interesting, beautiful bird. This under-rated bird deserves our respect. It's a shame he's so common. If you had to work to get one of these I'm sure their stock would go way up..

http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/killdeer.jpg

Cheers

[Giphsub]

Nice shots :thumb I like the second and last! Very cute little bird that last one.

[pyry]

Good shots for slim pickings! :D

I'm not familiar with North-American birds, but with a little help (http://identify.whatbird.com/mwg/_/0/attrs.aspx) I think you've got a vesper sparrow and a western sandpiper. Dunno about the first and I think all three are still juveniles.

[Maestro]

Very nice images. Your first bird looks like a grackle in molt, but I am not sure as to what blackbirds are common in your area. You unidentified small bird is a sparrow for sure, either a savannah or vesper, but the vespers usually have a more defined white eye ring. I'm leaning more toward savannah sparrow. They are common in my area in winter and spring. Your sandpiper is, well, a sandpiper. I am horrible at sandpiper ID. They all look the same to me. :D

[bhowdy]

Nice collection Evil
Okay here's what I get on the bird ID
Agree with molting Grackle
Small sparrow is a Song Sparrow
Sandpiper is a Least Sandpiper (yellow legs)

[BillyTom]

Cool pics!!

It looks like #1 is a Brewers - Molting Juv. #3 is a Vesper Sparrow - Worn Adult and #4 is definitely a Juv. Least Sandpiper - but I guess I'm too late (took too long with the Sibley's) :dunno

Bill

[evil eggplant]

Thanks so much for all the information, and for your comments.

Cheers

[Harv]

Really nice collection here. The killdeer image gets my vote. Very well done.

[Harryb]

You did pretty well fo those slim pickings. I love to capture killdears, they are a good subject but its difficult to get a good capture of one.