Sandpipers. Which is which? There are sandpipers everywhere around me on Bird Shoal, an uninhabited island across from town. I focus my camera on photographing one small enchanting bird that’s darting across the sand right in front of me. While out in the field, I snap lots of photographs. Now I need to attach a name to each bird. With sandpipers, that can be a challenge. Ask any experienced birder. It’s tough to distinguish the subtle differences between species. Small and medium sizes Flock of sandpipers Different species Although the variety of sandpipers and plovers shifts from season to season, there are at least three year-round residents: Willets, Sanderlings, and Piping Plovers. Many other species visit only during the fall or winter months, wearing their grayish non-breeding plumage, like these … Ruddy Turnstone Black-bellied Plover Killdeer Semi-palmated Sandpiper Semi-palmated Sandpiper Sanderling Killdeer Semi-palmated Sandpiper Black-bellied Plover Willet Willet Whimbrel Greater Yellowlegs Short-billed Dowitcher Greater Yellowlegs Marbled Godwit Short-billed Dowitcher Short-billed Dowitcher During the spring and summer months, the population of sandpipers and plovers changes, adding several other species. The birds are in full breeding plumage, which is more distinctly spotted or streaked. Long-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher Willet Ruddy Turnstone (with calico back) Long-billed Dowitcher Least Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Semi-palmated Plover Black-bellied Plover Black-bellied Plover Long-billed Dowitcher Dunlin Sanderling Ruddy Turnstone Dunlin On a summer visit, I had the good fortune to encounter some plover chicks and juveniles… Piping Plover Chick Piping Plover Juvenile Wilson’s Plover Juvenile Semi-palmated Plover Juvenile Here are related bird posts to visit: Waterfront Gulls >>Winter Loons and Mergansers >> Please follow and like: Share this:FacebookXLike this:Like Loading... Post navigation Birds Perched on GravestonesEncountering Young Green Herons