Sigh... :) They're going back south and we happen to run into a few. I suspect some are juveniles/immature and this is really throwing me off. Western Sandpipers were seen in this area a few days ago, but none of these look quite right for that.
Thank you for your help.
I am looking at the eye line and I get three possibilities: semipalmated, western, or white-rumped, in roughly that order. I am not sure about second photo - the bill appears a different color. And one of the birds in the 4th photo may not have the eyeline.
Yep, juveniles, from the neat plumage pattern (adults are moulting at this time of year, so tend to be a bit scruffy).
Streaking only on the breast, not the flanks, so not Dunlin
The wings are not particularly long, so not Baird's or White-rumped.
Legs dark, so not Least or Pectoral
Bill too long for Semipalmated (except possibly pic #2, but that's too small to be sure)
That leaves Western, which is also OK on plumage
Resin
Thank you so much for the ID and the explanations of why they are not certain species. I have to remember these markings. The Westerns are a life bird for us.
