Sandpiper ID again - 2 different kinds in shot

[bobolink2014]

Birds seen today (July 28) NJ.

I have been so confused with Sandpiper ID.  But now I have 2 different kinds in the same shot.  With your help I should now be able to figure out future sightings.

Is the Least Sandpiper in the background and the Semipalmated Sandpiper in the foreground.   (I guess based on yellow legs, wedged in between is another Least?)

 

 

 

 

[Aidan B]

The back bird looks like a Stilt Sandpiper to me. The middle bird is a Least Sandpiper. I don't know what to make of the very front bird, though it is very interesting.

You wouldn't happen to have any more photos of the very front bird would you? 

[Charlie Spencer]

3 hours ago, Aidan B said:

I don't know what to make of the very front bird, though it is very interesting.

It's bill has a bit of downward droop.  Why not Least for this one too?

[Aidan B]

13 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said:

It's bill has a bit of downward droop.  Why not Least for this one too?

It's probably a Least, and I can't really think of anything it could be, but it just looks wrong to me. It seems too light brown to be Least, if that makes sense, and that facial pattern is just weird. 

[BirdNrd]

20 hours ago, Aidan B said:

The back bird looks like a Stilt Sandpiper to me. The middle bird is a Least Sandpiper. I don't know what to make of the very front bird, though it is very interesting.

You wouldn't happen to have any more photos of the very front bird would you? 

Aren’t stilt sandpipers supposed to be a lot bigger than least?
Example: (with a dowitcher in back)

Edited July 30, 2022 by BirdNrd

[Avery]

1 hour ago, BirdNrd said:

Aren’t stilt sandpipers supposed to be a lot bigger than least?
Example: (with a dowitcher in back)

It looks a bit bigger to me in that photo. It may be the distance making size difficult to judge, but the structure is right on

[bobolink2014]

Thanks for the comments all.   I looked through more pictures in the same sequence of the shoot.    I can't tell for sure,  but I think I posted the same bird in the foreground and one from the background.    Part of why I'm sticking with the ID is that some very good birders were at this location in Hamilton NJ as it drew the crowd for a Little Blue Heron and a Snowy Heron.   They posted both the Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper. (In addition to a Solitary and Spotted -- but those I've seen and can ID).

So even these two pictures below.  They look like different birds,  unless they are at different stages.   They both have yellow legs, although the one with more brown on it's back has yellower legs.

Then again,  I'm lightening up the pix because of the shadows.   Maybe they both are Least Sandpipers,  and even around other birders telling me where the Semipalmated was,  I'm just taking pictures of the wrong bird? 

 

[bobolink2014]

I found another picture which could be 2 different birds, or both Least?   Although the field guides can point to Sanderling,  no one in the group posted a Sanderling on ebird.

I'm starting to give up on picking out something other than a Least here.    There will always be another day.   It is humbling when other birds are very conclusive with their observations and I'm still trying to figure it out. -- Although it can be frustrating,  it's still a whole lot of fun.    Thanks all.

[DLecy]

You have photos of Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. The bird being discussed as a Stilt Sandpiper is structurally wrong for that species. Stilt Sandpipers are tall, elongated sandpipers which are more often confused with the two species of dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs than they are calidris sandpipers.

[bobolink2014]

3 hours ago, DLecy said:

You have photos of Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. The bird being discussed as a Stilt Sandpiper is structurally wrong for that species. Stilt Sandpipers are tall, elongated sandpipers which are more often confused with the two species of dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs than they are calidris sandpipers.

Ok thanks.   I appreciate the confirmation of the Least and Semipalmated Sandpiper.    Hmm,  looking at pictures I can see how Stilt Sandpipers can be confusing with yellowlegs,  at least height wise coming up a little shorter than the Lesser yellowlegs

[Avery]

On 7/30/2022 at 9:29 AM, DLecy said:

You have photos of Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. The bird being discussed as a Stilt Sandpiper is structurally wrong for that species. Stilt Sandpipers are tall, elongated sandpipers which are more often confused with the two species of dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs than they are calidris sandpipers.

I stand corrected. Serves me right for pushing an ID of a species I’ve only seen once ?