The first one looks like a Least Sandpiper — they have yellow legs which I don’t see here but it could be because of the lighting. But the bill shape and chest plumage say Least to me. And ithas the overall compact “peep” profile. The second I believe is a Pectoral Sandpiper. That upright long neck posture with a relatively long decurved bill with again the chest markings suggest Pectoral.
Can you help some of us less learned Piper folks to understand what keys help you identify the bird(s). There were two photos in Linda’s request, do you consider them both Western Sandpipers and why.
Always looking to learn more and I find the Sandpipers hard, not quite as hard as the fly catchers but hard none the less.
I was in Othello, WA birding this past week and am having a problem identifying some of the sandpipers I photographed. I was wondering if anyone could help me out. Please see attached. Thanks. Linda Lamb
