Dunlin are your friends
When trying to identify rare birds, perhaps the most important skill birders need is the ability to rule out common species. There are certain birds which, through no fault of their own, can look rare, but are actually very common. If you can rule out the common, that is a huge start to identifying the rare. Potential pitfall species include (in no particular order) the likes of Dunnock, Mallard, Starling, Feral Pigeon, Sky Lark, Chiffchaff, Buzzard, and Meadow Pipit, even female Pheasant. Certain waders are among the most frequent confusion species of all. Sanderlings, Redshanks and juvenile Ruffs can be confused with several other rarer waders; but it is Dunlin, particularly juvenile Dunlin, which are the main ‘offenders’.
Study Dunlin, get to know them, even befriend…