Semipalmated Sandpiper

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (CALIDRIS PUSILLA), GREEN, MICHIGAN, MAY 17, 2010

Pentax K10D
SMC Pentax-DA 55-300 at 300mm
1/750 sec. f11
ISO 400

At first this seemed to be a Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), but the dark, rather than yellow, legs suggest the slightly larger Semipalmated, according to the bird books. Sandpipers -- also called "peeps" -- have been scarce on our Lake Superior beach for many years, but they seem to have returned in force this spring. (Click for a large view.)