ML513544051

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

I concluded this was a Rock Sandpiper. No known records of Purple Sandpiper on the west coast of continental US. The diagnostic feature leaning towards Purple Sandpiper is the orange color of leg and bill base. However, looking back at photos of Rock Sandpipers at this location, this coloring is very similar to individuals seen back in 2107 and 2018. Not likely the same individual. Viewing Purple Sandpiper photos on eBird, I would say that our bird has less distinct eye ring, a darker throat that extends further onto chest and that spots are darker. Ornithologists indicate that the differences in basic plumage between the 2 species are very challenging and so I am giving more weight to status and distribution. If I saw photos of this bird without location I would probably call it Rock/Purple Sandpiper.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 70D

ISO

125

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/400 sec

Dimensions

3348 pixels x 2377 pixels

Original file size

1015.5 KB