P I N S [National Seashore Federal Park]

I believe I photographed a "new" bird for me. I've seen the Short Billed Dowitcher, and heard of others seeing the long billed dowitcher. On a cloudy, chilly, damp day at the Bird Basin, on Padre Island National Seashore, I drove past a small rain water collected pond, and along with several Blue Winged Teal, Stilts, Egrets, and Red Winged Blackbirds, I spotted these. I thought they were Marbled Godwits at first, then I noticed there was no pink on the beak/bill...so, Godwits were out. Dowitchers?  I checked and compared my poor photos with my guide books once home, and they're very much identical to the short billed except for one distinctive characteristic, the long billed has BARRED stripes just under the wing, while the short billed dowitcher is spotted just under the wing...I see bars/stripes, and I am quite sure they're larger in bulk/size, not to mention the length of the bill...could this be a new one for me? If I am incorrect in ID, please inform me.

I apologize for the fuzzy photos...they were taken through the car window and I had no place to prop my hands to steady the camera weight...

LONG BILLED DOWITCHER
photos taken: Bird Basin - Padre Island National Seashore
habitat map: Dowitcher

Once I parked the car, I walked behind the Basin to traipse along the back side of the area, known to local birders that Piping Plovers [rare] can be found. Well, I saw two different plovers, but not the Piping Plover on this day. Also seen in the back acres of Bird Basin were:

...what I believe is the Savannah Sparrow [yellow eyebrow]

SAVANNAH SPARROW
photos taken: Behind Bird Basin {PINS}
habitat map: Sparrow



BLACK BELLIED PLOVER [winter - non breeding]
photo taken: Behind Bird Basin {PINS}
habitat map: Plover


GREATER YELLOWLEGS - larger and longer legs that LESSER Yellowlegs
photo taken: Behind Bird Basin {PINS}
habitat map: Yellowlegs


LITTLE BLUE HERON
photo taken: Bird Basin {PINS}
habitat map: Heron

Other Birds seen on this day -2 hours:

Red Winged Blackbirds -6
Snowy Egret -3
Blue Winged Teal -x
White Tailed Hawk -1
Semi Palmated Plover -1
Sanderling -x
Black Necked Stilts -4
Willets -8
Black Skimmer -2
Great Blue Heron -3
Tri Colored Heron -1
Laughing Gulls -x
Grackles -x
Ruddy Turnstones -14
Brown Pelicans -5
[heard only] Meadowlark -1
NOTE: The Aplomado Falcon is laying on a nest!!



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