This is one of those situations where a camera comes in handy. Maybe some people could sort out the five species of shorebirds in this flock in real time, but not me. I started doing bird photography for just this sort of help in identification. The birds in the photo are, from right to left, Sanderling, Dunlin, two Semipalmated Sandpipers with a Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher and a blurry Willet.
The photo includes the whole group but cropping individual birds is how to go about doing the identifications. This is the Sanderling, for example. It has a bit a food in its beak.
Photographed at San Carlos Bay, Fort Myers, Florida.
Birds in My Viewfinder 
These birds are so amazing. Anita
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I’m often surprised when we look at our photos after a birding trip. I’ll think I know what I saw, and then the photo proves me wrong. Photos are a huge help in identification, especially with tricky birds like these.
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