As we gear up for the Christmas Bird Counts in December, now is the time to do a little winter shorebird watching. Last week, during a break in the weather, we got out to Air Force Beach in Comox and scoped out some of the shorebirds on the rocks near a decommissioned boat launch. In addition to several gulls on the beach we saw three types of shorebirds in winter plumage: pale white Sanderlings; dull brown Dunlins with their down curved bills; and chunky, dark Black Turnstones with their short bills and distinctive patterned wings and backs.