joseph103's Identifications

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) (in foreground of 2nd photo). 1 Common Greenshank (with the greenish legs) and 6 Greater Yellowlegs were foraging together in Twin Ponds (a vernal pool) at corner of Border Rd. and Addington Rd. in Fort Ord National Monument (no car access). Link to Greater Yellowlegs observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188944663

Irene's Ebird Checklist # S153118843 that includes this Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) : https://ebird.org/checklist/S153118843

Write-up about this Common Greenshank sighting in Don Roberson's quarterly Monterey County Highlights: 2023 (Rare Bird Sightings in Monterey County) Fall-Winter (October-December) newletter, 2023: (link pending)

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) is large shorebird that is "common in Europe and Asia. There, it seems to fill the same niche as the Greater Yellowlegs in the U.S.; it is not too different in appearance, and it even sounds similar. Common Greenshanks show up in small numbers on the Alaskan islands, mostly during spring migration. It is a fairly large sandpiper, 30.5 cm (12 inches) long, similar to Greater Yellowlegs in size and shape, but tends to be grayer and less sharply marked, with green legs. In flight, it shows white triangle extending up back. "

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/common-greenshank

Common Greenshank is a "large wader with a slightly upturned bill. Note overall grayish plumage with white belly and greenish legs. In flight, appears dark above with a broad white stripe up the middle of the back. Slightly larger and lankier than Common Redshank. Usually seen as singles or small groups. Listen for mellow “tewtewtew.” Feeds mainly by striding in water, picking and sweeping with its bill. Breeds across northern Europe and Asia; migrants and wintering birds in Africa, southern Asia and Australia occur in varied wetland habitats."

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/comgre/

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Tringa-nebularia

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017 (species not listed)

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society (species not listed)

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name)(this species not listed)

probably Pacific-slope, common in the region, but behavior, notably flicking tail, didn't ring true for this species. Note: a Least Flycatcher has been well-documented less than a mile away and a Willow a few miles south.

Those two individuals were identified as Herring Gull, but I have doubts if it could be another species in first winter plumage. Especially because of the dark spot on the eye, completely black bill, streaked breast, pale uppertail coverts and dark tail-band.