Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) 22 July 2014. Cheetham Wetlands, Avalon, VIC, Australia
Curlew Sandpipers often wade belly deep as seen here. I judged this bird to be SY (2nd calendar year). The dark unfringed wing coverts are retained worn juvenile feathers. The rest of the first alternate plumage is basic-like. SY birds typically remain on their wintering grounds for their first summer (Austral winter). Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA | hand-held (no adapter) |