Hi TJ I looked at the beak but it seems a lot shorter than that of the Dowitcher (a short-billed one at that!). I enlarged the pic a little -does this help? Thanks Shyamala

Thanks, TMFF - that makes perfect sense. This creek running across the road was a Mecca for the eagles. They were fishing and I was trying to follow one as it got off the treetop, skimmed the creek, caught a fish and was flying off. It is only now when I am looking at that set of pictures do I realize there was more than just that one I was tracking as evident in this picture - three in all!

Thanks Gail and TMFF! Belted kingfishers apparently nest in the area of Cape Breton where I saw them in the first week of July,2011. After looking at more of my pics and comparing them with the images on the web, I believe that is what I took pics of. Folks in this forum are such great resources and willing to share their knowledge! Thanks again to both! Shyamala

Greatly appreciate it, BN! Most of the birds I posted here for ID (the Pine Grosbeak, Common Eiders, Osprey, Ring-Necked Kingfisher, the Sandpiper and the Common Yellowthroat) are all lifers for me! Thanks to all who took the time to identify them from not-so-great pictures! This post was edited by ggopal on Mon, Feb 3, 14 at 14:59