Western Sandpipers nest mostly in Alaska and migrate mostly along the Pacific Coast, but many reach the Atlantic Coast in fall and remain through the winter. We were birding with Ethan Monk when he spotted a small peep at the Richmond WTP with the characteristics of either a Semipalmated Sandpiper or Little Stint. Look for them on edges of mudflats or marshes, where they walk with a hunched posture and probe for little crustaceans, insects, and other invertebrates. It has a direct flight with rapid wing beats. Sexes are similar. The Bill: It doesn’t seem as thin and pointed as on little stint - it looks a bit blunter. How to identify a Little Stint (Calidris minuta): In winter the Little Stint has dull grey upperparts and white underside. Now I will write you my opinion. The feet, however, lack the partial webbing between the toes that is Just checking out the site..great stuff! The Least Sandpiper and the Long-toed Little stints, by comparison, have finely tipped bills. A close relative of the Semipalmated Sandpiper. Adult SemiP and Little Stint at Reenroe beach Adult Semipalmated Sandpiper with Dunlin, Reenroe beach, 6th August 2016 (M.O’Clery). Mainly for the reasons mentioned in your blog, but just wanted to help solidify people’s feelings. The back has white lines that form a V-pattern in flight. The latter images were obtained only the previous day by Angus Wilson." It is a rather typical bird, the darkness and boldness of the breast markings, the dark upperparts and dark cheeks are all Semi-p. Photo by Steve Young (www.birdsonfilm.com). Little Stint (Lesvos, Greece, 6 May 2007). "It may be of value to contrast the images of this Little Stint with those of the alternate-plumaged Red-necked Stint to be found elsewhere at this website. Welcome to BirdForum. Little and Red-necked Stints are extremely similar in basic (winter) plumage and must be identificed with great caution. Common Sandpiper (Marshside Marsh, Lancashire, 6 June 2004). The feet, however, lack the partial webbing between the toes that is BirdForum is the net's largest birding community, dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE! The legs and feet of Red-necked Stint are blackish in all plumages, as in Little Stint and both Western and Semipalmated Sandpiper (although some juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers can have paler olive legs), with the legs typically appearing slightly shorter than in Little Stint. It feeds by pecking at the surface and probing mud with its bill for small invertebrates. It is one of the smallest waders, smaller than a … At first we were leaning towards Semipalmated but after scope views and studying our photos we think it may possibly be a Little Stint. Little Stint: This medium-sized sandpiper has scaled-brown upperparts and white underparts. Of the various dull gray sandpipers to be found commonly on coastal beaches in … Little Stint Calidris minuta in this stage of moult can look superficially like Semipalmated Sandpiper C. pusilla in these respects, emphasising the need for close views to determine the precise state of plumage if a juvenile rare stint is suspected.