The Rock Sandpiper is one of Washington’s wintering shorebirds. It is seen with some regularity along the jetties at Westport and Brown’s Point in Ocean Shores, most often in the company of Surfbirds, Ruddy Turnstones and Black Turnstones, which also forage on rocky shores.

Dunlins are hardy birds that winter farther north than any other shorebird.  This fall and winter they will be along the Washington coast from late October to early May.  Major stopover points for them are the tidal flats and coastal estuaries around Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor and the Samish and Skagit Flats where they forage on marine and freshwater invertebrates by probing a few centimeters into the mud or fine-grained sand.

The Greater Yellowlegs (GRYE) is about 14” long with a wingspan of 28” while the Lesser is 10-11” long with a wingspan of 24”. The genus name Tringa (TRING-gah) is from Greek tryngas used by Aristotle for a white-rumped water bird.

Baird’s Sandpiper is not seen very often in Washington and because of this it poses an identification challenge for many birders. However, its slightly larger size when compared to other peeps; its lack of red or rufous coloration; and its penchant for foraging higher on beaches and in drier areas, all help to separate this peep from the others. 

The Spotted Sandpiper is probably the most widespread breeding sandpiper in North America, but it is one of a very small minority of sandpipers with one of the least common gender roles. Females arrive on the breeding ground first and will display to attract the males as they arrive.

The Marbled Godwit (MAGO) is about 18" long with a 29" wingspan and weighs 13 oz. (370g). The genus name Limosa (lie-MOH-sah) is from the Latin limus, meaning "muddy," for its favorite habitat, mudflats. The species name fedoa (FED-oh-ah) is the Latin version of an old and now unknown English word meaning "marbled." - for its mottled plumage.

The Western Sandpiper is part of the genus Calidris from the Greek kalidris which was used by Aristotle for a speckled waterbird.  Mauri is from Ernest Mauri (1791-1836) an Italian botanist and a friend of Charles Bonaparte (1803-1857), who named this bird for him.  They co-authored a book on Italian fauna.  The bird is the western counterpart to the Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla and the common name designates this location.

These two lovely, golden-backed plovers are migratory visitors to Washington and are seen most often in the fall. They were once considered one species and are very similar in appearance and difficult to identify in the field. However, their beauty makes the task worthwhile.

The Willet (WILL) is about 15” long with a wingspan of 26” and a weight of 8 oz. (215g).  The genus name Cataptrophorus (cat-op-TROW-for-us) is from Greek katoptron, mirror, and phoros, bearing, in reference to striking white pattern in the wings. 

The Long-billed Dowitcher (LBDO) is about 11-1/2” long while the Short-billed Dowitcher (SBDO) is about 11” long. The wingspan for both is 19”. The genus name Limnodramus (lim-NOD-roh-mus) is Latin from the Greek limnodromos, marsh runner.

The Sanderling is the most widespread maritime shorebird wintering in North America. It is the common sandpiper of sandy beaches and is familiar to beach goers as it runs with whirring legs after waves and then retreats just as fast from the oncoming waves.

The Black-bellied Plover is our largest plover. It is distinctive in its breeding plumage with black bill and legs, back and white barred upperparts and black face, throat and breast to the belly. In fall it molts to its basic plumage of gray above and below with a lightly streaked breast (photo).