Willet (center)/ Marbled Godwit

I'd love to go to Australia. I've never been there.

Ian, Black-tailed Godwits (ABA Code 3) and Asiatic Dowitchers (ABA Code 6) would be extremely rare in California. The Marbled Godwit and Willet are two very common species on California beaches.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbled_God...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willet

There is a Marbled Godwit surrounded by a flock of Willet.

Could be willet... Did you see them fly? Willets have black wings with white stripes. Otherwise they're kinda nondescript.