Waders - Forsythe NJ and San Francisco CA, Sept '17 (1 Viewer)

The NJ shots were in difficult backlight and glare. Some were also distant and I couldn't find a better angle or closer or clearer shot at that pond, but I have at least some guesses as to what I saw there. I've also made a guess at the ones I saw on the Bay Trail my last morning in SF, but given how often I'm mistaken I thought I should check with you folks before posting and making a fool of myself. But you folks already know that about me anyway , so here come my guesses:
1) I'm thinking these might be Black-bellied plovers still in breeding plumage, but with that backlight and glare it's hard to see the precise shape of the black belly plumage and white framing or the precise shade of their darker caps, so they might also be American Goldens ...? But I'm pretty sure not European or Pacific Goldens, but I've been wrong many times before.
2) Do I see a slight upturn to the bills on some of these waders, indicating Greater Yellowlegs? But that lighter-bellied one at the back with the broad white supercillium, is that maybe a Spotted Redshank? Can't really tell the leg colors thanks to the backlight and glare.
3) This plover is from the West Coast and in non-breeding plumage. American Golden, perhaps? Or is it Pacific Golden? I have many shots of them, but I think this one was the best.

1. Black-bellied Plovers.
2. The bills look fairly short and fine on the ones where we can see it, so I would say these are predominantly Lesser Yellowlegs. Definitely no Spotted Redshanks here.
3. This looks like another Black-bellied Plover to me.

Agree on the plovers.

The yellowlegs strike me as greater, except for maybe the rightmost, which looks a little smaller and might be a lesser.

I agree with Andrew

I don't know what the birds in the second photo are, but it looks like there are birds of at least two distinctly different sizes present.

It's possible the one more-or-less in the middle preening its back is a Greater, as it does look a bit bigger and it may have a longer bill. I think the front five birds are all Lessers and probably the bird second on the right too. I presume also a Lesser asleep at the back.

Yellowlegs picture is difficult - I'd go 3 Lesser, 5 Greater

2nd from left, back left and far right being the Lessers

Stuart Darbyshire said:

Yellowlegs picture is difficult - I'd go 3 Lesser, 5 Greater

2nd from left, back left and far right being the Lessers

Click to expand...

this is exactly my thoughts

Stuart Darbyshire said:

Yellowlegs picture is difficult - I'd go 3 Lesser, 5 Greater

2nd from left, back left and far right being the Lessers

Click to expand...

Yeah, I can go with that.

Interesting (or maybe a bit suspicious) that it's all the birds who have their bills tucked in.