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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KM1" data-source="post: 3152298" data-attributes="member: 58084">Wildtuinman asked:"... what would rule out White-rumped Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper? "I have no doubt that the bird in question is, as proposed by the OP, a White-rumped Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage, albeit with its rear end (the length of which normally provides one of the best ID clues) hidden behind the preening Greenshank. As has already been mentioned by others, the relative size (not as small as a stint) solid grey breast with continuation of grey marking along flank, medium/short bill (much too short for Curlew Sandpiper) and its overall jizz match White-rumped perfectly. A Baird's in winter would have a slightly different head-pattern, a straighter bill and much more sandy-buff colouration.I have taken the liberty of grabbing a still off a video-clip of White-rumped Sandpipers filmed in Argentina in December 2012 by Martin Manassero (available on the Lynx website) and placing it alongside the bird in question.I'm not sure of the status of White-rumped Sandpiper in South Africa but I guess it is not extremely rare, so the presence of this bird should not be so surprising. It may even have been recorded by others or, if it was photographed just last month it could still be present?Killian Mullarney</blockquote>