THESEAWATCHING CHALLENGE:The authors of the new Peterson guide to seawatching reveal the tricks of the trade that experts use to identify distant, fast-flying birds

摘要

ONE OF THE MAIN attractions of seawatching is the challenge it presents.Birds are generally distant and flying fast, and the best days often coincide with difficult observation conditions such as wind or rain. An additional challenge is the large range of possible species at most observation points, even those located inland.Simply put, seawatching is one of the most demanding types of birding in North America, and this is just what makes it exciting! There is always more to learn, new ground to break, and the opportunity to expand your birding skills.The identification methods that most field guides stress bear little resemblance to those that expert seawatchers use. At normal seawatch distances, traditional field marks are simply not visible. Most of the techniques used at a seawatch will be familiar to any hawk watcher or skilled birder, some of whom may use the techniques outlined below instinctively, without even realizing it.