ML472513321

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Saw this bird at a great distance on one of the larger mud flats along the left edge of the north end of the lower lake. I was standing at the Mexican Duck viewing spot, which is across from the upper lake trailhead parking area. With my small 30x scope I couldn't make it out very well. This bad photo is better than what I could make out through the scope. Thought maybe a Yellowlegs, but it seemed a little off for that. After looking at the photos, Solitary Sandpiper came to mind. Looked at other photos of that species and the plumage pattern, straight bill, and body shape of the bird seemed a good match. It was walking around somewhat slowly and poking into the mud. No bobbing rear end like a Spotted Sandpiper. I was checking the photos to see if I needed to take more, and when I looked up it was gone. It could still have been on the same mud flat behind some reeds, or it might have left. Paul Lehman confirmed the ID.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

ISO

800

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/1250 sec

Dimensions

621 pixels x 411 pixels

Original file size

286.8 KB