Most of these long-billed dowitchers are partially or fully molted from the dull winter plumage into the bright rusty breeding plumage.   They were all photographed in California:   at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area near Riverside, at Bolsa Chica wetlands in coastal Orange County, in San Francisco Bay, and at the Salton Sea.
      Click here for more pictures of long-billed dowitchers and here for pictures of short-billed dowitchers.

• Canon 10D, 1D Mk. II, 7D, 1D3, or 1D4; 500 mm f4 IS + 2X converter or 800 mm IS lens, fill-in flash (2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014)