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Calidris alba
Chestnut colouring on back, most likely breeding or summer plumage.
Spotted on salt flats.
Photographed in the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
This is definitely a Sanderling, the Little Stint has fewer markings on the breast.
Thanks for the comment and the ID, Liam. Just looked up sanderling in my book and right above it is a picture of a little stint in summer plumage, which looks exactly like this bird! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Little... is a picture of it on Wikipedia - possible it's a little stint and not a sanderling? Very similar birds, difficult for me to tell.
Stunning individual in alternate plumage! Wikipedia doesn't have a photo of one in this stage, so here's one I took in Brevard County, Florida three years ago: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/origi...
The leftmost bird portrays the highest alternate plumage, though not quite as brilliant as your birds.
Spotted on Jun 3, 2012
Submitted on Jun 11, 2012
+3
