Firstly, this one. Is this a long-toed stint? Or just a red knecked stint? Or something else altogether? Yellowish legs suggested long-toed stint and the toes...well, they seemed long. A rare bird for the area however, there have been recent sightings.
Pectoral sandpiper? Or just a sharp-tailed sandpiper or something else altogether? I couldn't really make out the yellowish base at the bill typical of pectoral sandpipers however she had just removed her face from the mud. The feature that stands out is the abrupt finish to the streaking on the breast.
Any help is greatly appreciated. I really want to improve my shorebird id skills, they badly need improving.
Both are Sharp-tailed Sandpipers
Thanks Steven,
I suspected the second one was but the first was was a large group of red-necked stints and was the same size. Might it have been a juvenile?
Have you got any photos with your 1st bird & the Red-necked Stints or others birds in the same frame?
Long-toed Stints normally have clean white undertail coverts, whereas your bird has streaking in this area, & the rufous in the crown goes against Long-toed as well.