Mystery wader (1 Viewer)

[jmorlan]

Took this photo today in California. Anybody know what it is? Added a second image for comparison with other species. This should help. It's the bird in the middle facing forward with its head down partly concealed by a small wader.

 

[JoeGBirder]

actually it could be a least sandpiper. i may be wrong. or a long-toed stint, but it's hard to tell. (that second one was a joke by the way because there is a sandpiper called the long-toed stint but it is WAY out of range. not actually that prob just a least sandpiper.)

 

[jmorlan]

Sorry. Check out the primary projection. Added another image to show structure and size comparison with other species.

 

[jmorlan]

Took this photo today in California. Anybody know what it is? Added a second image for comparison with other species. This should help. It's the bird in the middle facing forward with its head down partly concealed by a small wader. Added a couple more images. Hope these help.

 

[lou salomon]

White-rumped Sandpiper without any visible flank streaking?

 

[jmorlan]

Closer, but no cigar.

 

[lou salomon]

wow, so a Baird's in winter in Cali.

 

[jmorlan]

Sorry; that's not it. This is turning out to be tougher than I thought. Here is another hint. The fact that I took these photos in California is a red herring. This species is not expected here.

 

[Brian J Small]

Curlew Sand?

 

[jmorlan]

Bingo. We have a winner!! A search of my recent posts here will reveal a slightly better picture.

 

[lou salomon]

that's weird. i have considered curlew sand but tibias looked way too short for it in the initial images...nice quizz though!

 

[jmorlan]

Thanks. Maybe the legs are heavily cloaked with mud, making them look thicker than they really are. Other birds in the photos include Western Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitchers.