Entryway to Birding

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Tips for Tricky Bird IDs: Shorebird Edition!

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Identifying birds is hard. No matter the species, no matter the time of year—it’s a challenge. The right bird but the wrong lighting conditions can fool even an expert birder, but us newbies? Oof, sometimes it feels like we don’t even have a chance.

Every season, it seems like there are new arrivals destined to fool us, again and again. Right now, it’s shorebirds. In the few months that they’ve been gone, it feels like everything that I learned about shorebird ID migrated north with them. And unfortunately, it doesn’t look like my shorebird knowledge made the return trip, so I’ve had to do some studying up!

In this week’s Entryway to Birding blog, I’m going to share some of the most helpful shorebird ID tips I’ve picked up along the way. I’ll also talk through some side-by-side comparisons of some of our most common, yet confusing, shorebirds.

Let’s get started!

Photo by USFWS Northeast Region

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A Beginner's Guide to Spotting Scopes

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It’s hard to believe it is already August, but here we are. Fall migration started to pick up in mid-July as shorebirds, our earliest southward migrants, began to arrive. Later this month—likely late or mid-August—we can expect to see some warblers and other migrating passerines come through, so keep your eyes peeled and study up on those fall plumages.

One of the perks of fall migration is just how extended it feels. Spring can come and go in a flash, but fall migration lingers. You might be wondering how you can make the most of it as a beginning birder, and one of the questions that’s likely crossed your mind as you think about fall’s incoming shorebirds and waterfowl is, “Do I need a spotting scope?”

I can’t answer this question for you—only you can decide if it’s worth the investment. But in this week’s blog entry, I will address some things you should consider if you’ve been internally debating this question. I’ll also have some tips for how to make the most of your birding without a scope.

Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

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Birds by Bike at Zeloski Marsh

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If you’ve been following my posts this summer, you might remember some of my tips for keeping your summer birding fresh—literally. As a way to beat the heat, I’ve been out birding-by-bike so I can keep a nice breeze on my face and stay cool. It’s been ideal in this pandemic too, since one of the safest places to be is outside.

If you’ve been finding that some outdoor destinations are too crowded for your liking, I’ve got a recommendation for you. It checks a lot of boxes:

  • Ideal for social distancing (I’ve never seen anyone else there on my visits!)

  • Easily accessible by foot or by bike

  • Close to other fun destinations, making it perfect for a lil’ day trip excursion

  • Gorgeous habitat

  • Full of birds!!!

Where exactly is this fun birding hotspot? It’s Zeloski Marsh, in nearby Jefferson County!

Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

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A Birder's Calendar

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Last week, I talked about how fall migration is going to be here before we know it. Shorebirds are certainly starting to show up, and by mid-August we’ll be seeing our warbler friends return to us as they pass through on their southbound journey.

If you’re just getting started with your first year of birding, the timing of these arrivals and departures can feel like a lot to grasp. Not only are you dealing with IDing field marks, learning bird calls, and figuring out where to find the birds you’re looking for, but you've got to keep track of when they’ll be here too?

Yeah, it’s a lot.

For a new birder, keeping track of all this can be overwhelming. How are you supposed to know what birds are on their way, and what birds are about to depart? What’s common and expected to stick around? What nests here? So many questions!

This week’s post has some resources—and helpful eBird tips and tricks!—to help you get a sense of the birding seasons.

Photos by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

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Preparing for Fall Migration (It’s Sooner Than You Think!)

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Welcome back to the Entryway to Birding blog! Another week has gone by and these hot temps are still lingering. We’re definitely in the thick of summer and the birding can feel a bit slow. Have you been finding ways to get out and bird, despite the heat? Or have you switched your attention, like many do, to the gorgeous butterflies and dragonflies that abound? I’ve still been chasing that perpetual breeze and birding by bike—read more about some of my favorite destinations in last week’s blog!

In this week’s post, I’ve got some suggestions for how new birders can take advantage of this summer birding lull to get prepped and ready for fall migration.

Wait, what? Fall migration, you say? Isn’t that, like, two months from now?

No, my friends. Fall migration begins sooner than you think. It’s just around the corner, and it will bring some new birding challenges that you’ll want to be prepared for. Let’s take a look!

Photo by Brandyn Kerscher