Formerly considered a race of the Eurasian Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), this North American bird was split by the 52nd AOU supplement on the basis of differences in male calls, morphology, and mitochondrial and nuclear DNA.
Two races are currently recognized. This is the nominate North American race. The larger C. n. occidentalis ranges along the West Coast of South America (Peru & Chile) and lacks the dark lores of the North American birds.
Because of population declines, this species is Federally listed as threatened, and California lists it as a species of special concern. It
likes sandy beaches where loose dogs, people and dune buggies often disrupt breeding attempts.
This was another attempt at shooting in RAW mode. Here I used F 5.60; 1/1000 sec; spot metering. Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LX5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA | hand-held (no adapter).