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Western sandpiper        Images © Mark A. Chappell

Like most 'peeps,' western sandpipers alternate between a fairly drab winter plumage and a brighter breeding plumage.   These birds are in various stages of molt from breeding into winter plumage.   They were photographed -- one with a least sandpiper -- at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and at Moss Landing, both in California.   Other images of western sandpipers are on this page and here; pictures of roosting flocks are here, juvenile birds are here.

  • Canon 1D4 or R7; 800 mm IS lens most with 1.4X converter, some with fill-in flash (2015, 2022)