Ted Hartzler found this Western Sandpiper at El Paso this evening and had the scope set up on it when I pulled up. Thanks to Ted for this lifer. It was smaller than Baird's Sandpiper and seemed slightly smaller than some of the fat Semipalmated Sandpipers. The bird on the right in the photo is a Semipalmated Sandpiper. Notice on the Western Sandpiper (center) The white throat and breast (not buffy), streaking or spotting on the flanks, and the longer bill that is droopy on the end. Also, notice the chevrons on the breast, belly, and flanks. In the photo below, the Semipalmated Sandpiper is on top, and the Western Sandpiper is on the bottom.
Here are a few more photos of the Western Sandpiper, which was lifer #392 and Illinois state bird #292 for me.
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