Least Sandpiper

I agree with Gatorfellows and Jeff that #1 is a Least because of the yellow legs and smaller bill; #2 is a Western because of larger bill and dark legs; and #3 has both.

Roger, I would suggest separating these images into three spottings... #1 stays by it's self as a Least Sandpip and #2, with the last image, becomes Western Sandpip.
Nice spotting!

beautiful bird

I have been enjoying the diversity of your spottings. Keep up the great work :)

Looking through your spottings indicate you have encountered quite a diversity of species already. In North America at least, everyone gets hung up on the tough groups at some point. The various seasonal and age-related plumages of gulls, shorebirds, and warblers are always a challenge.

Iam new a this birding so I really need your help thank you

I was looking threw my photos I notice that some has yellow legs and black legs so I think your right thank you for help, its fun to get birds that hard to id

I agree with your summary.

Hi Roger; my understanding at this point is Photo 1 is a Least because of the yellow legs and smaller bill; Photo 2 is a Western because of larger bill and dark legs; and Photo 3 has both. These unknown peeps have proved interesting and challenging. Fyn, Jeff, Jellis, venus do you have a conclusion? :)

These are always a challenge, but it is my opinion that Photo 1 is a least sandpiper, Photo 2 is a western sandpiper, and Photo 3 includes both.

So is there two different birds or just one bird?

Thanks Hems - it seems there are a lot of little differences with peeps. I need more practice :)

Just read that dark legs my just be mud to add to the confusion. Photo 2 does have a larger bill and has a bit of white at the base. I agree there seems to be different sizes in the last photo.

Great Link, Gator's fellow.

The bird in photo 2 may be a western sandpiper due to the black legs and larger bill; photo 1 appears to be a least sandpiper due to yellowish legs and apparently smaller bill. Photo 3 appears to have both species.

Fyn has helped me on more than one occasion. Looking for yellow legs the first photo seems yellow and the only one with legs showing in photo 3 seems yellow, but photo 2 has dark legs. hmmmm..... Here is a comparison page that I found to try to compare Western and Least. It was really a good 'how to id peeps": http://www.aba.org/birding/v40n4p40w1.pd...
I am not a sandpiper expert, so decision is yours :)

It seems to me that this bird is not light enough in the face, back and breast to be a Western. Also, the bird has yellow legs making it a Least.

Most likely the Western as the other ones you mention are not that common there except the Least and this doesn't have yellow legs and the Dunlin that doesn't have a white belly.

Trying to id is how I learn. Here is my thinking: Pectoral has thin white lines down its back which looks darker than yours and I do not see a white line. Semipalmated chest is lightly marked, yours seems more definite and lower on the chest. The White-rumped we have here in Texas have streaking on their sides. Let's hope an expert helps us out with this one. Will keep an eye on this spotting :)

hmm. I'm not either, gatorfellows. Could be western sandpiper. Other possibilities are semipalmated sandpiper, white-rumped sandpiper, or pectoral sandpiper. Not 100 percent sure. sandpiper expert, anyone? here's a site that might help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bir...

Not a real sandpiper expert, please confirm the suggestion :)