Whimbrel
Images copyright by Mark A. Chappell

Whimbrels breed in the Arctic but winter along the coast, where they use their long, curved bills to probe in sand and mud for worms, crustaceans, small clams, and other food (below).   Most of these birds were photographed on the Monterey Peninsula in central California.   The flying whimbrels at the bottom of the page were at Bolsa Chica wetlands in coastal Orange County, California.

digital captures, Canon 1D Mk. II or 1D3, 500 mm f4 IS lens plus 1.4X converter, some with fill-in flash (2004, 2006, 2007)