Semipalmated vs. Least Sandpiper, Ohio, May 15, 2022 (1 Viewer)

[qwerty5]

Today I saw a noticeably grayer peep among the many Least Sandpipers. I was unable to see any yellow on the legs. I'm thinking it's likely SESA, but hoping someone can confirm. Here are some phone scope pics, in the first you can see the difference between it and a LESA:

 

[Indobirder]

Is it the same bird in the first 3 and last 2 photos?

The last 2 look good for Semipalmated with the short and thick-looking bill, and dark legs.

One problem with leg color is determining if mud is a factor, but it looks very black in the last 2 photos, so I think it's not just mud.

Hopefully others chime in 🙂

 

[THE_FERN]

I don't know if it's expected there, but (5) could be Western. Rufous coloured crown and cheek patch. Some of the others could be semis: difficult to be sure given image quality

 

[qwerty5]

I'm fairly certain all photos are of the same bird. The differences in the pictures I think is due to lighting and such, in the last two photos everything looks more clear and conrasty. Western would be extremely rare here in the spring. Can Least ever be this pale and gray?

 

[connorco]

These all look like Semipalmated to me