Wader ID please

[Rob_D]

Checking back through some old shots, I found this one taken summer 2007 in South Uist. ID please?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Red Knot Calidris canutus for me.

Cheers,

Adam

[htcdude]

Looks like a Knot

[RobS]

Interesting, I try to ID these without looking at suggestions and I had that down as a Common Sandpiper.

The eyering looks brighter than Knot, although it is a bit chunky for CS.

I'll assume I am wrong!

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by RobS

Interesting, I try to ID these without looking at suggestions and I had that down as a Common Sandpiper.

The eyering looks brighter than Knot, although it is a bit chunky for CS.

I'll assume I am wrong!

I agree, it doesn't look like any knot that I've seen but neither dooes it look quite like a common sandpiper I'm stuck on this one.

[turntostone]

This may be a stupid idea but could it just be the photograph making the bill look shorter that it really is and the bird "scrunched" up,to keep out of the wind. So could it be a bar-tailed godwit?

[htcdude]

I did initially think of Godwit, but bill seemed too short (even if the photo made it shorter )

It looks like a juvenile Knot to me, belly pattern is good and doesn't seem white enough for Common Sandpiper

Nige

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by RobS

Interesting, I try to ID these without looking at suggestions and I had that down as a Common Sandpiper.

The eyering looks brighter than Knot, although it is a bit chunky for CS.

I'll assume I am wrong!

I always look at the photo before looking at other IDs as well. I opened this one and immediately identified it as Common Sand. I had another look after reading the replies, but it is definitely a CS.

[htcdude]

Could I be a pain and ask why you say this against a young Knot? So I know for the future

[Dogghound]

Definitely a common sand, a knot has a different bill shape (shorter and darker), different coloured plumage (more grey), lacks the white carpal patch, lacks the well defined eye stripe, and wouldnt be in the UK in summer and if it was it wouldnt be this colour if was an early bird (unless it was a 1st year, which it isnt).