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; sometimes they also forage on rocks and mussel beds.   All of these birds were photographed in California: the Monterey Peninsula, Bolsa Chica wetlands or Crystal Cove State Park in coastal Orange County, and the Salton Sea.

• Canon 1D Mk. II, 1D3, 1D4, 7D2, or R5; 500 mm f4 IS lens or 800 mm IS lens, some with 1.4X or 2X converter, some with fill-in flash (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2022)