Sandpiper ID Help needed

Sandpipers always confuse me. Not the best, taken early this morning in heavy overcast along with big crop

Bird 1

Was larger than a Least.

nice shots, like #3 best

I'd say that your Bird #1 is a Pectoral Sandpiper. They look like big Least Sandpipers with their yellow legs but note the well defined line that separates the brown chest from the white belly. That is where the name Pectoral comes from.

Bird #2 is tougher. It agree that it is most likely a Western, but I would also consider White-rumped Sandpiper. This is where having a good checklist for your area can really help. Shorebirds are starting to migrate and in many areas the timing of what is coming through and when is predictable. A good annotated checklist can help narrow down the most likely suspects.

Good luck.

Mark

Markmcc wrote in post #14736284
I'd say that your Bird #1 is a Pectoral Sandpiper. They look like big Least Sandpipers with their yellow legs but note the well defined line that separates the brown chest from the white belly. That is where the name Pectoral comes from.

Bird #2 is tougher. It agree that it is most likely a Western, but I would also consider White-rumped Sandpiper. This is where having a good checklist for your area can really help. Shorebirds are starting to migrate and in many areas the timing of what is coming through and when is predictable. A good annotated checklist can help narrow down the most likely suspects.

Good luck.

Mark

Thanks Mark. Was considering Pectoral but have never seen one and was not 100% sure. They do show up here in April and again around 1st of Aug. White rumped, hadn't thought of that one.